Withe tells fans to keep it clean

Withe tells fans to keep it clean

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

National soccer team coach Peter Withe is appealing to local
fans to behave during Saturday's Tiger Cup final against
Singapore -- for the sake of their side.

"To the supporters, (I say) please don't throw bottles, don't
launch fireworks," the Briton said after Wednesday's afternoon
training session.

"Instead of doing such bad things, they could sing during the
match, which will be good enough to motivate our players and put
pressure on the visitors."

Hooliganism would not only disrupt the tempo of the home team,
Withe said, but the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) was closely
watching the conduct of notoriously ill-behaved local fans.

During the first semifinal between Indonesia and Malaysia on
Dec. 28 in Jakarta, local supporters set off fireworks and threw
bottles onto the field in the second half when the visitors took
a winning 2-1 lead.

However, Indonesia bounced back to crush Malaysia 4-1 on Jan.
3 to secure a final spot.

In looking ahead to Saturday, Withe said both teams overcame
difficult obstacles.

He characterized Singapore as a good team with tall defenders
and solid organization, but also noted that it had conceded five
goals in its semifinal matches against Myanmar.

Singapore defeated the relatively unfavored team 4-3 in the
first semifinal match, but only eked out a 4-2 win in extra time
in the second encounter, after being behind 1-2 at the end of 90
minutes. The close contest was despite three of Myanmar's players
being sent off for indisciplinary conduct.

He pointed to Indonesia's home field advantage, as Singapore
would have to adapt to playing at the Bung Karno Stadium in
Senayan, South Jakarta, and deal with the weight of fan support.

"We're playing at home...we will surely attack them," he said.

Withe kept mum about his strategy for the final, but said his
players were highly confident, having scored in every match
except their goalless draw against Singapore in a preliminary
round.

Meanwhile, the National Sports Council (KONI) head of
development affairs, Djoko Pramono, said that the performance of
the national soccer team, after many years of mediocre results,
was very impressive, and he singled out Withe for praise.

"It was because we have a good coach, Peter Withe, that
emphasizes discipline in players and improved their mentality,"
he said.

"Now, we have a sharp attacking soccer team who are not afraid
of playing away, as they can win at home and also in other
countries."

He was particularly hopeful of Indonesia taking the biannual
title, because the team had never been daunted by the prospect of
playing Singapore.