PSM likely to beat MBR in soccer final

JAKARTA (JP): PSM Ujungpandang will win today's Dunhill league final against Mastrans Bandung Raya (MBR) if it manages to play consistently, a soccer observer told a press conference yesterday.

"As an observer, I think PSM has a better opportunity of becoming the champion of the Dunhill League final," Sinyo Aliandoe said.

Sinyo, a former national coach, said that PSM Ujungpandang will be relying on its two strikers Brazilian Jacksen Tiago and Yusuf Ekodono.

"Their performances may well inspire the whole team," he commented.

PSM will also count on M. Ayub Khan and Luciano Leandro to hold the defense steady.

The Eastern Conference league winner reached the final after upsetting Persipura Jayapura 4-3. MBR made the final after winning the penalty shoot-out 4-2 against Mitra Surabaya in Friday's other semifinal.

M. Basri, coach of PSM, expressed his hope that his team will not have to win the cup with a penalty shoot-out in today's final.

"Of course, we've prepared our penalty takers. But I'd prefer our victory to come in normal time," he said.

Mursid, MBR's assistant coach, said that his team will try its best to grab the trophy despite its less obvious power.

MBR's top scorer Dejan Glusevic, who usually partners striker Peri Sandria, will not play in the final due to receiving a red card in the Western conference match last month.

The final is scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m.

The Indonesian Soccer Association's spokesman, Tondo Widodo, hoped that the final, which will be watched by Vice President Try Sutrisno, will not be colored by brawls and hooliganism.

Soccer fans vandalism exploded outside the stadium following Mitra's loss, although 1,200 security officers had guarded the stadium.

They smashed dozens of cars, which were parked near the stadium and along Jl. Sudirman and the Semanggi clover leaf.

Hospital

Three MBR fans had to be taken to hospital after they were hit with rocks thrown by Mitra's supporters.

"Mitra fans had been arriving in Jakarta since Thursday and by Friday noon they had broken into the Indonesian Soccer League office at the Senayan sports complex," Tondo said.

"They also demolished the fences in the stadium, which are used to segregate the opposing teams' supporters," he added.

Tondo promised that the security for today's final will be much better than for the semifinals.

"We still only have 1,200 officers but there will only be two teams playing tomorrow. The situation will not be as high- tempered as yesterday," he said.

Tondo said that the organizers have once again allocated places for the supporters of each team.

Mursid complained that the team's players and officials could not get onto their busses because they had been smashed.

"We have to go in a military vehicle to the hotel. We have also called on 60 officers to guard the hotel because we're frightened that something might happen," he said.

Mursid expressed hope that the officers will pay more attention to the spectators instead of the game.

"I saw with my own eyes that most of the officers watched the match instead of guarding the spectators," he said.

About 3,000 members of the MBR-supporters club are expected to lead the team's support in today's final, which will start at around 2:00 p.m.

The final will be proceeded by a women's soccer match, Tondo said. (yan)