Soccer coach seeks justice for all

JAKARTA (JP): Sacked-coach Nandar Iskandar is seeking for justice and asking help from the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) chairman, Agum Gumelar, over his dispute with other soccer officials.

Nandar met Agum at the latter's residence on Wednesday morning to report his results with the national team, which is still in Bangkok for the Tiger Cup's semifinal match against Vietnam.

Nandar was sacked by PSSI official in charge of athletes development Nurdin Halid and national team director Muhammad Zein last week.

"I told him that I was sacked in Bangkok during the Southeast Asian regional tournament instead of in Jakarta. The incident has tarnished my image."

"I agree with Pak Agum that being discharged is one of the risks of being a coach. But I can't accept it as they did it arbitrarily and in a deceitful manner," he told reporters.

Nandar said Agum had expressed concern over the incident. He also said that Agum would wait for an explanation from both Nurdin and Zein before making his decision.

"I asked him to promise to settle this matter but it will take a long time before he can decide. Pak Agum said he must wait to hear the whole story from the other officials."

He also said Agum agreed to pay his salary until his contract finished in December. But it is unclear whether Nandar will coach the national team until the end of his tenure.

Nandar said the dispute began when Zein told him that the players had a burden on their minds which later on culminated in the team's poor performance against Thailand.

Indonesia nearly lost its semifinals berth after losing 1-4 to the host team last Friday.

"On Saturday morning, Zein came to me and said that we must do something to smoothen the team's way to the semis. Zein said that the players do not like me or Zein, but that they really hate one of us. But he did not mention who. He suggested that he will create a new spirit in the team by appointing my assistant, Dananjaya, to lead the daily training."

"He also asked me to tell the players that I felt sick so I had to miss the training session. I did as he said with the hope that the move would help lift their motivation."

Nandar said that on Sunday, he was banned from meeting with players and attending the decisive match, where the team regained its composure to thrash Myanmar 5-0.

"Zein asked me to stay in the hotel on Sunday. He said that I was not helpful to the team's performance. He then asked me to take a break until the Tiger Cup is over. I told him I won't accept this treatment and I decided to return to Jakarta."

Nandar said the plan to discharge him had been made after Indonesia's defeat with Thailand. He also said that Nurdin had learned of the plan but did not take any action.

He believed that some players were not involved in the plan.

"I asked senior players like Nuralim, Aji Santoso, Seto Nurdiantoro, Budiman and Imran Nahumarury and they said that they had no intention of sending me out of the team." (ivy)