RI's pre-Olympics soccer team tie 1-1 with Cambodia
RI's pre-Olympics soccer team tie 1-1 with Cambodia
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's pre-Olympics soccer team achieved a
1-1 draw against Cambodia in the first of a two-game friendly
match at the Lebak Bulus stadium on Sunday.
Coach Bernhard Schumm said he was satisfied with his under-23
players performance during the match.
"The 1-1 tie result is not important to us. It is more
important to know that we can control the game. Besides, it's the
first international experience for them."
Striker Bambang Pamungkas kicked the first goal in the fifth
minute after receiving a pass from midfielder Uston Nawawi.
Cambodian striker Hok Sochetra managed to equalize after passing
through Indonesia's captain and midfielder Sugiantoro in the 29th
minute.
Despite the early goal, Indonesian players failed to display
good teamwork and coordination during the first half. Schumm
decided to replace two strikers and three midfielders in the
second half to increase the national team's offense.
"Early on we had communication problems, but in the second
half the players improved. I saw more good than bad things during
the play."
Despite their limited training, Schumm complimented his
players form, saying they adequately matched the Cambodia team
currently training for the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in
Brunei Darussalam in August.
He said some players, including Sugiantoro and Uston Nawawi
from Persebaya Surabaya, had participated in training for the
event only four days prior to the match.
Cambodian coach J. Fickert said there was still a long way to
go before his team could prove itself competitive in
international tournaments.
"With the new coach, your team will have to be more patient
before you can be a formidable team," he said, adding that
Schumm's effort to substitute players in the second half did not
improve the team's form.
Both teams will meet again on Tuesday at the Senayan Stadium.
Eighteen out of 24 pre-Olympics soccer teams will be selected
during the tryout. They will compete in the five-day Quadrangular
Tournament for Olympic teams at Bukit Jalil National Stadium,
Kuala Lumpur, which is also a warmup for the pre-qualifying round
of the 2000 Olympics in May. (ivy)