PSSI dreams of march to Asian Cup quarterfinals
Zakki Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Facing the prospect of a potentially tricky competition, national coach Ivan Venkov Kolev said the Indonesian soccer team would do its best to make its way through the group stage at the next Asian Cup.
The Asian Cup, which will be hosted by China from July 17 to Aug. 7, pits Indonesia in Group A against the host nation, Qatar and Bahrain.
Kolev was philosophical about the draw, saying that every team in the group would be aiming to advance to the quarterfinals.
"All of the teams are strong and they all are preparing their best," the Bulgarian told reporters at the at Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) office here on Friday.
Asked about Indonesia's chances of advancing past the group stage, Kolev said it would be difficult, but added: "Anything can happen in the world of soccer."
With the tournament still four months away, Kolev said he had not yet worked out any specific strategies for his squad.
He said the team would first concentrate on the work at hand, as they get ready to play a World Cup qualifying match against Saudi Arabia on Feb. 18.
The Asian Cup is Asia's premier international soccer tournament, having first been held in 1956.
Andi Darussalam, the PSSI chief in charge of the national league, said China was certain to advance out of Group A, leaving Indonesia in a three-way race with Qatar and Bahrain for the second berth.
"We will do our best. If we lose, we should return home with heads still held up high," he said.
PSSI chairman Nurdin Halid seemed to try to play down the opposition, saying that Indonesia was at the same level as Bahrain in terms of individual skill, and that the national team should be able to overcome the team from the Middle East.
Against Qatar, Nurdin said, the national squad should realistically look for a draw.
Nurdin said he would be counting on his players' professionalism, nationalism and determination to make the country proud.
Holder Japan was placed in Group D with Iran, Thailand and Oman.
Group B will see South Korea, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan, while Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan are drawn in Group C.
Meanwhile, the PSSI has postponed until next Wednesday its ruling on Persita's appeal regarding the four-year ban given to Jorge Toledo and the four-month ban handed to Ahmad Kurniawan following a brawl during the Persija-Persita match on the opening day of the Indonesian soccer league.
Rusdi Taher, the head of the association's appeal commission, said they needed a few more days to examine the case and study the video evidence.