PSM, PKT pledge action-packed soccer final

JAKARTA (JP): The final of the Bank Mandiri national soccer league on Sunday will see two clubs from outside Java fight it out for their first ever President's Cup.

PSM Makassar of South Sulawesi and Pupuk Kaltim Bontang (PKT) of East Kalimantan are no strangers to each other, having met numerous times in the eastern group of the league.

But despite their many encounters, both teams pledged the final on Sunday would be full of action that would entertain spectators and supporters of the clubs.

RCTI and TVRI will air the final live at 4:30 p.m. Jakarta Time on Sunday..

Boasting highly motivated players with great individual skills and tenacity, PSM is favored to take over as league champion from PSIS Semarang, which was relegated to the first division after its poor performance this season.

PKT, owned by the state-run fertilizer company, is not intimidated, saying it will use its underdog status as motivation to surprise PSM.

After all, both clubs taught their western opponents that strategy, not great players, is the decisive factor in becoming champion.

PSM crushed home-favorite Persija's dream of raising the championship trophy for the first time, narrowly defeating it 1-0 in the first semifinal match on Thursday. PKT followed PSM into the final by edging past Persikota Tangerang 4-3 on penalties.

PSM assistant coach Syamsuddin Umar and PKT assistant coach Soengkowo Soediharto said their teams had no special preparations for the final because they were well acquainted with each other's playing styles and strengths.

"We are accustomed to PKT," Syamsuddin said on Saturday. His counterpart, Soengkowo, added: "There is no special preparation or tactics. We meet so many times that it might become routine."

Soengkowo said his team was more prepared than PSM. "PKT hired a foreign coach before PSM."

PKT is coached by Sergei Dubrovich of Moldova, while PSM is guided by Dutchman Henk Wullems, a former coach of the Indonesian national team.

Soengkowo and Syamsuddin both said their teams would play aggressive soccer on Sunday.

PSM team manager Kadir Halid said PKT was not an easy opponent. "PKT comprises local players with good skills. But PSM has undergone intense physical training, enabling us to be able to fight for 90 minutes and extra time. If they want to be aggressive, we will counterattack from the beginning."

PKT team manager Arif Budi Santoso did not want to be left out of the war of words, saying: "Our team is physically ready. But we are still setting our strategy. We will play without any burdens because everybody sees us as the underdog."

South Sulawesi Governor H. Zainal Basrie Palaguna and East Kalimantan Governor H. Suwarna AF are expected to attend the match. (ivy)