Sinyo Aliandu calls for more junior soccer tornaments

Sinyo Aliandu calls for more junior soccer tornaments

SEMARANG, Central Java (JP): Indonesia needs more soccer
tournaments for young players that run regularly, both at home
and abroad, to contribute toward better performances at the
international level.

Former national coach Sinyo Aliandu told The Jakarta Post here
yesterday that such a regularity will give the country's young
players the exposure they need to enrich their skills, improve
their strength and get them used to hard-fought competitions.

Sinyo, the All-Indonesia Football Association's official in
charge of the association's youth grooming program, was here for
the 11th Haornas/Coke Cup under-16 soccer championship final.

"Age group competitions, either at the Southeast Asian or
Asian level, should follow up this under-16 tournament as soon as
possible. There should be an unbroken chain of youth grooming
programs," Sinyo said.

He suggested that the Indonesian soccer body should invite
more private companies to fund the junior competitions. "I'm
hoping to see the Bimantara Cup, Indosat Cup, Telkom Cup or other
tournaments, which can provide experience for our young players,"
he said.

Jakarta coach Efendi, whose team finished third here, shared
Sinyo's view. He found it more urgent, however, to drill young
players to become sharpshooters.

"Indonesia lacks goal machines who are not necessarily
strikers. We need a special program run by the national soccer
body which focuses on goal scoring skills. Either goalkeepers,
defenders, midfielders or forwards should have this sport's basic
instinct," Efendi said.

Indonesia's young footballers have been enjoying top billing
in Asia, but the lack of international exposure has cost them
their bright future.

The Indonesian soccer body initiated an Italian stint for its
young players in 1993, a breakthrough project which was aimed at
cultivating a national team in a short time. It has yet to prove
successful, as suggested by Indonesia's continuous flops in
either Southeast Asian, Asian or world competitions.

A talent scouting team from the national soccer body recruited
26 players yesterday from the just-concluded Coke-Cup tournament
to join the national training center. Team coordinator Sutadi
said that some of the players will leave for the Italian program
next year.

Jakarta won the most places with eight, champion Central Java
and Central Sulawesi had five apiece, runner-up Jambi and South
Kalimantan got three each and fourth-placed North Sumatra, two.

Sutadi said that only those with a height of at least 1.63m,
commendable basic skills and strong determination should be
recruited for the centralized program. (har/amd)