RI to meet Thailand in soccer opener

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian soccer team will face a tough challenge at the 18th Southeast Asian Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand, playing the host team in the opening group match.

The Organizing Committee announced yesterday that Indonesia and Thailand will open their Group A round-robin matches on Dec. 4 at the Chiang Mai stadium.

At the same time, the preliminary round in Group B kicks off in Lampoon, 30 kilometers from Chiang Mai, with Brunei and Singapore locking horns.

Indonesia will meet lowly Cambodia in the second match on Dec. 6 before taking on Malaysia two days later. Both the games will be held in Chiang Mai. Indonesia will play its final group match against 1993 runner-up Vietnam on Dec. 12 in Lampoon.

The draw conducted on Oct. 14 placed Indonesia, defending champion Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia and Vietnam in the same pool. The other group comprised Singapore, Brunei, the Philippines, Myanmar and Laos.

There will be 24 matches in the soccer competition, with the final to be held on Dec. 16 in Chiang Mai. Thailand, fielding its dream team, is favored to retain the soccer crown, despite the absence of star-studded Piyapong Pueon.

The top two teams of each group will qualify for the cross- over semifinals on Dec. 14. Group A winner will play Group B runner-up in the first semifinal, beginning at 8:30 p.m. local time, followed by the other semifinal match, pitting Group B winner against Group A runner-up.

The play-off match for the bronze will precede the final on Dec. 16.

Three-time winner Indonesia, boosted by the successful soccer league this year, is seeking the gold medal to regain its fading superiority. Indonesia finished only fourth in the 1993 Games in Singapore, losing to the host team in the play-off. (amd)