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