Thirty-four players to join national soccer team

JAKARTA (JP): The Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) has named 34 players from 13 main division clubs to join the national team for the 2002 World Cup pre-qualifying round.

Head coach Benny Dolo told reporters on Tuesday that the core team would only comprise of 25 players before they start competing on April 1.

"We don't have much choice due to limited time. But we picked players with one precondition: good cooperation with me. So they have almost the same characteristics with me," he said.

Benny said under-23 players in the list would be selected for the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur in September. PSSI has set no target in the pre-qualifying round, but it aims to be finalists in the Games.

The 34-players were selected by a special talent-scouting group established by PSSI. The training program will start on Monday.

"There will be some friendly matches against local teams before the 25 players are decided. We may stage the friendlies on March 27, 29 and 31. It's very difficult to find good practice partners as most teams are competing in the ongoing Bank Mandiri national league."

Benny said PSSI had agreed to include more juniors in the team to increase match experience.

He also said players from PSM of Makassar, South Sulawesi, would be allowed to join the team after the Asian Club Championship quarterfinals from March 21 to March 25.

Indonesia is in the World Cup Asia zone Group 9 with Cambodia, China and the Maldives. Indonesia will play the Maldives on April 8, Cambodia on April 22, and China on May 27 in the home matches. In the away matches, Indonesia will face Cambodia on April 29, the Maldives on May 6 and China on May 13. (ivy)

List of players

Goalkeepers: Hendro Kartiko (PSM), I Komang Putra (Persebaya), Wawan Darmawan (Persija Timur) and A. Kurniawan (Persita).

Defenders: Eko Pujianto (Pelita), Sugiantoro (Persebaya), Jet Donald Laala (PKT), Warsidi (Persija), Rolando Khoibur (Persija Timur), Ronny Ririn (PSM), Anwar Panda (Persita), Aples Tecuari (Pelita), O. Kanath (Persipura), Joao Bosco (Persikota), Ismet Sofyan (Persija Timur), Agung Setyabudi (Persebaya), Erol FX Iba (Semen Padang) and Isnan (Barito Putra).

Midfielders: Elly Aiboi (Semen Padang), Maman (Pelita), Andrian Mardiansyah (Persikota), Bima Sakti (PSM), Yaris Riadi (Persib), Uston Nawawi (Persebaya), Seto Nurdiansyah (Pelita), Firman Utina (Persita) and Eduard Ivak Dalam (Persipura).

Strikers: Budi Sudarsono (Persija), Zaenal Arief (Persita), Bambang Pamungkas (Persija), Gendut Doni Christiawan (Persija), Purwanto (Semen Padang), Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto (PSM) and Supriono (PSMS).