Wullem appointed as new coach of RI national team

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) has named the Netherlands' Henk Wullem as the national team's coach, replacing Danurwindo.

The association's spokesman, Tondo Widodo, said yesterday the Wullem's appointment was made after a two-hour meeting.

"The association's members unanimously agreed to name Wullem as the new coach. Danurwindo even suggested Wullem and gave us his recommendation that Wullem could train the national team well," Tondo said.

Danurwindo did not resign because of the national team's poor performance in its World Cup qualifiers against Yemen and Cambodia but was because of family problems.

"It is not true that I resigned because I failed to bring out the best of the team. I resigned because of my family. With Wullem replacing me, I feel relief and I want to concentrate on my family," Danurwindo said.

He trained the national team for one-and-a-half years since January last year.

Wullem currently coaches Jakarta's Pelita Mastrans club and was the only candidate for the job of national coach.

PSSI has yet to decide what job Danurwindo will get. Tondo said that for the time being, Danurwindo will be relieved from PSSI.

"We want Danurwindo to take a rest first and later we will decide what to do with him."

Wullem and Danurwindo hugged each other and chatted in a friendly manner.

Team manager

Tondo said PSSI appointed Andrie Amin as the national team's manager.

Andrie was Pelita Mastrans' manager. There were three candidates for the job. The others were Bandung Raya manager Trie Gustoro and PSM Ujungpandang manager Nurdin Hamid.

Andrie was named because he had worked with Wullem at Pelita Mastrans.

"I hope Andrie and Wullem can work together and improve the national team's bad image in the community," Tondo said.

He said the appointments were until the World Cup Asian zone qualifying matches end in June. Indonesia's remaining matches are against Yemen in Saana on June 29 and twice against Uzbekistan on June 1 in Surabaya, East Java, and on June 20 in Uzbekistan.

Andrie and Wullem will be evaluated first and if they pass will be appointed until the Southeast Asian Games.

Although Danurwindo is no longer the national team coach, he will still help PSSI if needed.

"I am still concerned with the national team so I will give any help the association needs."

Appointment

Wullem said he was told of his appointment Wednesday night when the PSSI's Nirwan Bakrie phoned him in the Netherlands.

"I was shocked after hearing the news, so on the same day I left my country and here I am now. I know it will be a difficult task but I will try to make the Indonesian team as good as possible," Wullem said.

Wullem said he had no specific program but would start meeting the players first and try to assess their problems.

Wullem hates long training sessions. "I don't want the players to be over exhausted but want them to be energetic."

He said he would start training the players on May 9 and later hold trial matches against several national clubs.

Wullem together with Andrie will also select an assistant coach and manager.

"I have to discuss with Andrie who will assist us. Of course, we want qualified people in our team," said Wullem.

Wullem said the team needed a bit of polishing which could be done by rearranging players' position. Wullem added there were weaknesses in the team's playing formation.

"I believe the poor performance of the players was because of bad field placings. I intend to rearrange the players' positions," Wullem said. (lnt)