PSSI talent scouts net 25 players

SEMARANG (JP): The talent-scouting team from the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) has netted 25 players to join the national team for the pre-qualifying round of Group Nine of the 2002 World Cup.

PSSI spokesman Eddi Elison said that many of the candidates were familiar faces on the national team and all were still playing in the 2001 Bank Mandiri national soccer league.

"Most of them are old hands, such as Bima Sakti, Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto, Nuralim, Hendro Kartiko, Warsidi, I Komang Putra, Budiman, Alexander Saununu, Slamet Riyadi, Uston Nawawi, Bambang Pamungkas and Budi Sudarsono," he explained.

Eddi said that the PSSI had nominated Benny Dolo (coach to Persita of Tangerang regency), Sutan Harhara (former coach to Persikota of Tangerang mayoralty) and Rusdi Bahalwan (former Surabaya-based Persebaya coach).

He said the PSSI was still negotiating with Persita to allow Benny to train the national team. He also said that the PSSI would likely select a foreign coach for the 2001 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games training program. (har)