Soccer coach seeks justice for all

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)