RI to try out in perth prior to Asian C'ships

JAKARTA (JP): The three-day soccer tour of Perth, Western Australia, which starts tomorrow is the Indonesian national team's last trial before the Asian championship finals in Dubai in December.

Coach Danurwindo told The Jakarta Post on Friday that he would consider replacing some members of the existing squad, depending on the Australian results.

His team, comprising mostly Italian-trained players, has had two trials since May. It won its first trial against Mataram Indocement of Yogyakarta 2-0. In its second trial last month in Medan, North Sumatra, Danurwindo's side beat visiting Sampdoria 2-1.

After Australia, Danurwindo said, his team would regroup for one month in August to train for the first Tiger Cup Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Football Championships in Singapore, scheduled from Sept. 1 to Sept. 14.

"This (the Singapore tournament) will be the final tryout for our team," he said.

Danurwindo said his team would not be overburdened for the finals in Dubai, scheduled from Dec. 1 to Dec. 16.

"Our dream of qualifying for the Asian Championship finals has already been fulfilled," he said. "Thus, in Dubai, we just want to know how our team will finish among the best teams in Asia. Just to measure our level in the region."

Indonesia hopes the national team can become one of the top four or five teams in Asia by the second millennium.

Meanwhile, the All-Indonesia Football Association's director for youth soccer development, Bernard Schum, told The Post that the first Under-19 Soccer League would kick off in October with 82 teams. Before the league starts, Schum will train the teams' coaches at a 10-day intensive course here in August to "raise their standards."

"I think the plan to launch the junior league will be a big achievement," said the 45-year-old coach who has been here only four weeks.

Schum refused to comment on the soccer body's project of sending young footballers to train in Italy, saying that it was another development project, not under his charge.

The project has been under fire since the Indonesian team, fresh from one year in Italy, failed to qualify for the Asian Under-19 finals a few weeks ago. (arf)