Tunas Patriot wins first futsal tourney

JAKARTA (JP): Bekasi's Tunas Patriot soccer school overcame Camp 82 of Jakarta 7-5 in the first McDonald's Futsal Tournament at Bung Karno Indoor Stadium in Senayan complex on Saturday.

Adi Bahtiar created a hat trick in the 17th, 27th and 28th minutes before being sent out for disobeying the referee. Compatriot Abdul Madjid struggled to make a hat trick in the sixth, 12th and 36th and Hariyanto contributed one goal in the second minute into the first half.

Syomantri of Camp 82 also created a hat trick in the 11th, 23th and 36th minute while Ryzki A. produced two goals in the 30th and 37th minute.

Yet Saturday was another great day for 15-year-old Mudenih, who was crowned the top scorer with 20 goals. He was also appointed the best player.

Mudenih also made a hat trick in the first, 10th and 25th minutes to lead his club Pelita Bakrie of Bogor to take third place after a 5-2 victory over Bintaro Jaya in an earlier match.

Compatriot Ahmad Rifai contributed two goals in the 23th and 29th minutes.

"It's good to play in a futsal team. The number of players is less than that in outdoor soccer, so we can build a solid team. I also find it an enriching experience, and it's improving my fitness," he said after the match.

Mudenih, a student at Setia Negara vocational high school in Depok, West Java, said that he had joined the soccer school in 1999.

Saturday's final four marked the 71st anniversary of the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI). The first futsal tournament was also to popularize the new sport, which is played by two five-member teams on a basketball-sized field. (ivy)