RI soccer team facing shake-up

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian soccer team is facing a shake-up after its surprise 1-1 away draw to Cambodia in Sunday's World Cup Asian Zone qualifying match.

The Indonesian Soccer Association's secretary-general, Nugraha Besoes, said yesterday the team would have to beat tougher challengers than Cambodia to stay in the Asian group five.

"Because of the draw yesterday, it will be harder for us in the next three matches. We can't loose them all," he said.

Indonesia will face Uzbekistan on June 1 and June 20, before it meets Yemen.

Cambodia scored its first goal Sunday in the group's qualifying round. The last time it played Indonesia it lost 0-8.

"The association admits that we need to make a change," Nugraha said but refused to elaborate.

National Sports Council chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar said he was disappointment with the loss.

"It's absolutely unbelievable that our team could lose (points) to Cambodia. The association must figure out the cause (of the loss)," he said.

SEA Games team training director Djoko Pramono said the players must learn from the draw.

"Our team was not solid enough during the match. They could not quickly anticipate Cambodia's changing tactics.

"I'm really disappointed with the results," he said.

Djoko said he hoped the team would train harder for the Games here from Oct. 11 to Oct. 19.

"They must train harder to fulfill the council's target," he said.

The council expects the team to win gold in both men's and women's soccer at the Games.

"Players must concentrate only for the Games. After the World Cup qualifiers, they should not compete for their national league teams," Wismoyo said.

"The team's biggest responsibility is to win gold at the SEA Games," Nugraha said.

Indonesia was out of the medals at the last Games in 1995 in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The host won both the men's and women's soccer gold medals.

The team returned home last night to a cold reception at the Soekarno-Hatta airport. (yan)