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)