PSSI turns to Kolev for national coach
PSSI turns to Kolev for national coach
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
After hopes of hiring local coach Mundari Karya look set to be
collapsing, the national soccer governing body, PSSI, has now
turned its attention to another foreigner to replace German
Bernhard Schumm as the U-20 team coach.
Irawadi, a PSSI official, said that they were going after Ivan
Kolev of Bulgaria to take over from Schumm, whose coaching
contract was abruptly terminated by the PSSI at the weekend after
the team's failure in the Southeast Asian Soccer Championship in
Bangkok last month.
"We have written to Kolev and the decision will be made this
week," Irawadi, who was himself the team manager during the
Bangkok trip, told reporters here on Monday.
Kolev is not new to Indonesian soccer, having been with
Jakarta-based Persija in 2000. He led the club to the semifinals.
"It is Persija that has recommended us to look into a possible
partnership with Kolev because he is considered to have done a
good job with the club," Irawadi said. Kolev led Persija to the
semifinals in the 2002 season.
The PSSI looks set to abandon its efforts to recruit Mundari
Karya, an assistant Persija coach, because the 2002 league
champion has refused to release him.
"They say Mundari is needed for their campaign to defend the
league title. And we can understand their reasoning. We may want
Mundari, but we can do nothing if Persija wants to keep him,"
Irawadi said.
Meanwhile, the national coaching trio, who were contracted to
see out the job of preparing a senior team only this week,
announced 18 players for a friendly match against Hyundai Mipo
Dockyard.
The trio are manager Andi Darussalam Tabusalla, head coach
Suimin Dihardja and assistant Syamsudin Umar. They have been
hired only on a one-match term basis and will have completed
their assignment after the Hyundai game.
The game is scheduled for the Bung Karno Stadium here on
Sunday. Hyundai was the 2001 runner-up in the Korean professional
soccer league.
The list, which consists of two goalkeepers, seven defenders,
five midfielders and four strikers, has been drawn from ten of
the 22 clubs in the league with PSPS of Pekanbaru making up the
largest contingent in the squad.
Indonesian players selected for the Hyundai match --
Goalkeepers: Hendro Kartiko (PSPS), Jendri Pitoy (Persikota);
Defenders: Aples Tecuari (Pelita Krakatau Steel), Slamet Riyadi
(PSPS), Eko Pujianto (PSPS), Joko Puspito (Persija), Ismet Sofyan
(Persijatim), Anang Ma'ruf (Persija), Mat Halil (Persebaya);
Midfielders: Bima Sakti (PSPS), Uston Nawawi (Persebaya), Edward
Ivak Dalam (Persipura), Edu Juanda (PSPS) Eli Eboy (Semen
Padang); Strikers: Bambang Pamungkas (Persija), Rocky Putiray
(PSM), Kurniawan Dwi Julianto (PSPS), Ilham Jayakusuma (Persita).