Suswanto in for trip to Turkmenistan

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.