Soccer players in poor shape: official

JAKARTA (JP): Seven of the 24 soccer players in training for the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games are in below-standard physical condition, an official admitted on Thursday.

"The physical condition of 30 percent of the 24 players is below our minimum standard," national training director Imron Z.S. said. He could not remember their names.

He said the National Sports Council (KONI) would discuss the matter with German coach Bernhard Schumm.

The soccer team underwent a one-day physical test on Tuesday, conducted by KONI's sports science commission. Schumm also was invited to discuss the athletes' physical fitness with the council's consultants on physical training, Paulus Pasurney and M. Moeslim.

Schumm said he was not surprised by the poor results because his players trained hard before their physicals.

However, he was irritated by Imron's disclosure and said he should not have discussed the results with the media before talking to him.

"The training center director should have talked with me before talking to the press. I have no further comment because he never talked with me," he said.

Paulus said Schumm promised to improve athletes' physical condition after they return from overseas tournaments late this month.

"He guaranteed that the players could increase their 'VO2max' (oxygen capacity in blood) after they returned from overseas tournaments. The players should be able to run some 4,000 meters or 10 times around Senayan sports stadium in, at the most, 15 minutes," he said.

Imron said overseas training in Europe was delayed from June 15 to June 25. The Games will be held in Brunei in August.

"I have to make sure if they are going to Europe as preparation for the SEA Games or for something else," he said.

The team started training early this month. As of Thursday, they continued to practice without injured goalkeeper Kurnia Sandy. During one week's training, Schumm put each player in different positions. (ivy)