PSSI expels Kurniawan, Halim from national team

JAKARTA (JP): Top striker Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto and goalie M. Halim were eliminated from the national team competing in the Asia Cup, coach Nandar Iskandar announced on Friday.

Nandar said that Kurniawan, who was expelled from the 1999 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games team after testing positive for amphetamines, could not boost his performance level during the several tryouts and he was not productive in scoring goals.

The team is scheduled to compete in the qualifying round of the cup in Hong Kong on Oct. 24. They will leave for the tournament on Oct. 21.

The 18 players left on the team are goalies Hendro Kartiko and Sahari Gultom, defenders Nuralim, Eko Purjianto, Sugiantoro, I Made Pasek, Aji Santoso, Anang Ma'ruf, Ismet Sofyan, midfielders Bima Sakti, Alexander Saununu, Ali Sunan, Haryanto Prasetyo, Imron Nahumahuri, Uston Nawawi and strikers Rocky Puttiray, Widodo C. Putro, Bambang Pamungkas.

He said he would now rely on Rocky as the spearhead.

"Rocky is now in his best form before we leave for Hong Kong. He is ready to pair with Widodo or Bambang," he told Antara.

Indonesia is in Group 7 along with Hong Kong and Cambodia. The three countries will fight for a berth to the final round in Lebanon in 2000.

Kurniawan, who used to be the country's best striker, could not strengthen his performance level even though he was given a chance by the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) chairman, Agum Gumelar, to join the national team after he failed to defend the country in the Games in Brunei Darussalam in August.

The test also found that Kurniawan was addicted to amphetamines, a statement which was later denied by Kurniawan.

A source at the National Sports Council (KONI), who was also involved in testing Kurniawan for drugs in July, said the 23-year-old player should seek treatment to help his addiction.

"I think he is now trying to stop taking drugs. He should get therapy, because he still has a good physical form and he should seek a total recovery. But he should be trained with a special coach and supervised by a doctor," the source, who refused to be named, said on Friday.(ivy)