Soccer's problems team
The national soccer team's failure to reach the second round of the ongoing Asian Cup in China, as promised earlier by team manager Andi Darussalam Tabusala, has disappointed soccer fans across the country.
The hope that our players "might be inspired by the success of Greece in the Euro 2004, in terms of fighting spirit and discipline", was not realized.
Indonesia's only win was 2-1 against Qatar in its opening match, after which it bowed out 5-0 to host country China and lost to Bahrain 3-1 in the decisive match.
Even before the championship, the national squad, under Bulgarian coach Ivan Kolev, performed poorly by losing all three friendly games in the past two months.
Their sole victory against Qatar was a slight improvement, as Indonesia has consistently lost all matches in the Asian Cup of 1996 and 2000.
Of course, it is unfair to compare Indonesia and Brazil, the Copa America champ.
However, Brazil, known worldwide as a soccer powerhouse, did not even need to deploy its top stars. Big names such as Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Kaka and Roberto Carlos were absent. Even so, with only second-stringers, Brazil was able to defeat favorite Argentina in a penalty shoot-out.
Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said the result was what really mattered, never mind who the players were.
In fact, the second-lineup team was actually being prepared for the 2010 World Cup.
So, what about Indonesia?
Even before the Asian Cup, Kolev had already complained about the players' inferiority complex in the face of strong international teams. The coach was puzzled at several international matches by the players' tendency to give up easily.
Discipline, teamwork and a fighting spirit are the three crucial elements missing from our players, although they possess adequate individual skills.
Match schedules are another problem. Political events -- particularly this year's general elections on Apr. 5, July 5 and Sept. 20 -- have forced the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) to reschedule national league matches and the planned Indonesia Cup, cautioned by the National Police not to stage matches during election campaigns.
The PSSI must also pay greater attention in scouting new talent, cultivating junior players and developing the coaches' skills and knowledge to improve training programs.
Following the Asian Cup failure, the PSSI has yet to decide whether it will extend Kolev's contract, which will end in August. Kolev himself has hinted that he wants to stay with the team to face the Tiger Cup in December.
The presence of Peter Withe of Britain, who previously coached Thailand, to "supervise almost all national teams of different age groups but the league team" only complicates the issue.
No official statement has been released by the PSSI, pending a decision from its chief Nurdin Halid, currently hospitalized amid his being named a suspect in the illegally imported sugar case.
His status as a suspect in the case has boosted demands from provincial chapters of the PSSI for an extraordinary national meeting to dismiss Nurdin.
The legal problem indirectly affects PSSI programs, especially national and international competitions. There is also a possibility that sponsors may cut their support if the case impinges upon their corporate image.
Until these problems are addressed properly, soccer fans' hope to see the national squad achieve success will remain just that -- a hope.