PSSI calls 15 players for SEA Games
PSSI calls 15 players for SEA Games
JAKARTA (JP): The Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) has
called 15 under-23 players to attend the training program for the
2001 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, team manager Irawadi D. Hanafi
announced on Tuesday.
Twelve out of the 15 players were fresh from performing at the
just-concluded 2002 World Cup qualifying match while the
remaining three players also attended the training program for
the cup but were eliminated in the selection.
He said the team would consist of 25 players.
"The training program for the SEA Games will begin immediately
in Jakarta. We have to be serious as we are aiming to finish as
finalists at the SEA Games," Irawadi told a media briefing.
He also indicated that Benny Dolo, who coached the national
team for the World Cup qualifier, would still coach the SEA Games
team despite an earlier plan to hire a foreign coach.
"We only have two months for preparation. Hiring a foreign
coach for such a short period would be less effective," he said.
Irawadi, who is also PSSI treasurer, said that he would cross-
examine the allegation that three members of the SEA Games team
-- Warsidi, Bambang Pamungkas and Ismed Sofyan -- falsified their
ages.
"I'll anticipate any cheating attempt. I will check the
players administrative record. I want evidence and I don't want
to take action based on rumor."
Irawadi said the team would perform at the Ho Chi Minh Cup
soccer tournament in Vietnam to measure their skills from Aug. 10
to Aug. 18.
"We are scheduled to play in Thailand after the Vietnam
campaign. If we have time, we also want to have a go in
Australia," he said.
Besides the three players, the rest are Ahmad Kurniawan, Erol
Fransiskus Xaverius Iba, Sunar Sulaeman, Supriyono, Isnan Ali,
Maman, Firman Utina, Elie Aiboy, Budi Sudarsono, Purwanto, Wawan
Darmawan and Zaenal Arif.
In a related development, PSSI Secretary General Tri Goestoro
also announced that some second-round matches in the Bank Mandiri
national soccer league due for Wednesday will be delayed due to
the heated political tension.
The matches are Persib (Bandung) vs Persikabo (Bogor regency)
in Bandung; Persita (Tangerang) vs Persijatim (East Jakarta) in
Tangerang; Pelita Solo (Surakarta) vs Petrokimia in Surakarta,
Central Java; PSS Sleman vs Persebaya Surabaya in Sleman, Central
Java; Persema Malang vs PSM Makassar in Malang, East Java.
"Local police have refused to issue permits because the
political situation is not supportive," Tri said.
Veteran
Meanwhile, men's veteran swimmer Richard Sam Bera was also
invited to join SEA Games members along with Andi Wibowo, Hendrik
Eko AP, Hani Dwi P., Albert C. Sutanto, Armand Panji and Akbar
Nasution, the deputy secretary-general of the Indonesian Swimming
Association (PRSI), Dadeng Kurnia, was quoted by Antara as saying
on Tuesday.
Dadeng said seven women's swimmers -- Siripiya Sutanto, Magdalena
Sutanto, Dyah Ayu Rahmani, Ati Yuliani, Renitya Yulius, Yohana
Prayogo and Farida Arianti -- were also invited to the team.
On Monday, the Indonesian Tennis Association (Pelti) announced
that it had called junior players Angelique Widjaja and Peter
Handoyo to join the SEA Games team.
Pelti spokesman Benny Mailili said Angelique would also play
in the Fed Cup team against Austria in July along with veteran
Yayuk Basuki, Wynne Prakusya and Romana Tedjakusuma. Angelique
replaces Wukirasih Sawondari.
The four women's players are to join the SEA Games squad,
Satusports.com reported.
Benny said the men's SEA Games team would consist Suwandi,
Peter Handoyo, Bonit Wiryawan and Sulistyo Wibowo. Wth the
exception of Peter, all have been Davis Cup team members. But
Pelti has yet to name the Davis Cup team that will fight to stay
in Group I Asia Oceania zone later this year in September. (ivy)