PSSI names 25 national team players

JAKARTA (JP): The Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) finally named on Saturday 25 players for the Kuala Lumpur Southeast Asian (SEA) Games and the 2002 World Cup qualifiers.

Coach Benny Dolo and team manager Irawadi Hanafi told reporters that the team comprised both seniors and juniors.

Benny said, as quoted by Antara, that there would still be some changes in the team as the SEA Games team should comprise under-22 players while for the World Cup, the best had to be fielded.

The 25 players are: goalkeepers I Komang Putra, Hendro Kartiko and Achmad Kurniawan; defenders Eko Purdjianto, Sugiantoro, Warsidi, Ronny Ririn, Aples Gideon Tecuari, Ismed Sofyan, Agung Setyabudi, Supriono and Sunar Sulaiman; midfielders Yaris Riadi, Isnan Ali, Ellie Aiboi, Maaman, Bima Sakti, Uston Nawawi, Seto Nurdiantoro Erol FX Iba and Firman Utina; and strikers Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto, Budi Sudarsono, Bambang Pamungkas and Gendut Doni Christianto.

Irawadi said the PSSI would punish any players who intentionally gave false information concerning their dates of birth for the SEA Games.

Indonesia only managed to take a bronze at the 1999 Games in Brunei Darussalam.

In the World Cup qualifiers, Indonesia's capital Jakarta will host the Maldives on April 8, Cambodia on April 22 and China on May 27. (yan)