PSSI dreams of march to Asian Cup quarterfinals
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.