Suswanto in for trip to Turkmenistan

Zakki Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Following the elimination of six players, mostly due to indiscipline, from the national soccer team, head coach Ivan Venkov Kolev has recruited Suswanto of Persik Kediri.

Suswanto is expected to strengthen the midfield of the team, which took only 18 players along on its tryout trip to Malaysia on Wednesday.

Kolev, of Bulgaria, said that he would love to pick more players, but due to the limited time of visa processing procedures the team could only afford one.

However, Kolev was very hopeful about Suswanto's ability to cover the gap in the midfield.

"Suswanto has the ability to fill the position and role left by the (dismissed) players. He is a flexible midfielder," he told reporters after a training session at the Senayan soccer field on Friday.

He hoped that the team would be ready in time to play against Turkmenistan in the Asian qualifying matches for the 2006 World Cup on March 31.

The elimination of Mukti Ali Radja, Djet Donal La'ala, Kurniawan Dwi Julianto, I Putu Gde and Isnan Ali, who were for disciplinary violations, and Purwanto, who contracted dengue fever, gave Kolev many less options in his strategy during a lackluster 0-0 draw with Malaysia.

Disappointed, Kolev said earlier that his team had missed at least six opportunities to score a goal while the Malaysians were not playing with their full team.

In the preparation for the Turkmenistan game, the team will have another tune-up match, this time against Thai Bec Tero Sassana FC on March 25.

Kolev added that he almost no knowledge of Turkmenistan strengths as information was very limited.

Indonesia is grouped with Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka and Turkmenistan. In its first match, Indonesia lost 3-0 to the favored Saudis in Riyadh.