PSSI sets no target in World Cup qualifying

PSSI sets no target in World Cup qualifying

JAKARTA (JP): While other Asian countries struggle for
prestigious 2002 World Cup tickets, the Soccer Association of
Indonesia (PSSI) is pessimistic about its chances in the Group
Nine qualifying round beginning in April.

PSSI secretary-general Tri Goestoro said on Wednesday the
national team will not set a target except to achieve its best
considering the current team consists mostly of juniors.

"We realize that our senior players have reached their optimum
skills. Therefore we want to rejuvenate the national team. We are
searching for youngsters to be trained for better achievements in
the near future. We will appoint some seniors to accompany them,"
he said.

"We don't have any target for the prequalifying round. We just
want to achieve the best we can with the available resources."

PSSI appointed Benny Dolo, former coach of Persita club from
Tangerang regency, to coach the national team and its treasurer
Irawadi D. Hanafi as team manager.

Benny will be assisted by Mundari Karya from Barito Putra. The
prequalification training program starts on March 19.

Indonesia is in the same group as Cambodia, China and the
Maldives. It will host the Maldives on April 8, Cambodia on April
22 and China on May 27. In the away from hone matches, the
national team will challenge Cambodia on April 29, the Maldives
on May 6 and China on May 13.

Tri said Benny had been hired for two years for the national
team, but would only serve as an assistant coach for the squad
for the Kuala Lumpur Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in September.

PSSI will appoint a foreign coach for the Games and hope to
reach the final at the biennial event.

Regarding Benny's status at Persita, he said PSSI had settled
the matter with the club on Tuesday. Persita is now being coached
by Benny's former assistant Solihin.

"Pak Benny Dolo can learn from the foreign coach while at the
same time the coach will need information about the characters of
the Indonesian players," Tri said.

He said further that Benny and Irawadi would be answerable to
PSSI officials.

Benny said he would focus on developing a good soccer team
that would hopefully be ready by March 12 at the latest.

"We aren't talking about achievements here. We are in the
process of building a good national team, so we have to be
realistic. We know where we stand in the Asian soccer community,"
he said, adding that he would do his best.

Indonesia will face the toughest challenge from China, which
just hired Serbian top coach Bora Milutinovic to lead the team to
the World Cup.

"Although we are not burdened by a target, I still have my
pride. I don't want to be a scapegoat for any disappointing
result. But we must face the risk and I hope soccer fans are
ready for it," Benny said.

He has received assurances that PSSI will not interfere with
his decisions concerning setting up a team. He also said there
would be no overseas tryouts as part of training preparation.

"I will introduce my program to the team four days after
training begins and then we will continue training with off-play
system," Benny said.

In January, Indonesia moved down one place to 15th in FIFA's
Asian rankings and 104th in the world. China is Asia's No. 9 and
world No. 71th. Maldives stands at 30 in Asia and 154 in the
world while Cambodia ranks 35th in Asia and 167th in the world.
(ivy)