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)