PSSI to decide fate of Danurwindo today

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) will meet today to decide whether to replace Danurwindo as national coach.

A PSSI source said yesterday the association's technical director, Nirwan Bakrie, would issue a statement on Danurwindo and problems facing the organization.

Danurwindo said earlier that he was responsible for the team's poor performances against Yemen and Cambodia.

Indonesia was held to a 0-0 home draw against Yemen and has won two matches against Cambodia, 8-0 at home and 1-1 away, in its Group 5 World Cup Asian zone qualifying matches.

Indonesia leads the group with five points, followed by Yemen with four points and Cambodia with one point. Uzbekistan has not yet played any matches in the group.

Uzbekistan has its first away match May 9 against Yemen. It will meet Cambodia away on May 25 before taking on Indonesia away on June 1.

Uzbekistan, a former Soviet Union state, will host Indonesia on June 20, Cambodia on June 29 and Yemen on July 13.

Indonesia's next match is against Yemen away on June 13.

Danurwindo has said he will resign if the association doubts his competence.

The association was aware of Danurwindo's statement and would decide his fate today, the source said.

The association's secretary, Nugraha Besoes, said Tuesday that there would be a meeting today.

"The meeting will be attended by all the association's members. It will also discuss reports and evaluations on the national team's performance," Nugraha was quoted by the daily Kompas.

Nugraha declined to say whether changes would be made to the team. "This will be decided in the meeting on Thursday. The meeting will also discuss whether the match against Uzbekistan on June 1 will be held in Surabaya or at Senayan."

The source said the association was considering replacing Danurwindo with Dutchman Henk Wullems, who is coaching the Pelita Mastrans club in Jakarta.

Nugraha said, "PSSI chairman Azwar Anas has agreed to consider hiring the Dutch coach to train the national team."

On a new team manager, the source said two candidates had been proposed: Andrie Amin, manager of Pelita Mastrans, and Trie Goestoro, manager of Bandung Raya.

Andrie and Trie are considered ideal candidates because they have worked with Henk Wullems.

"The approval of Andrie or Trie has yet to be decided by the PSSI chairman," the source said.

State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman said Tuesday that Azwar Anas had the authority to replace the national coach and manager.

"Azwar knows more about PSSI's problems, so I will leave the decision to him," Hayono said. (lnt)