Wullem appointed as new coach of RI national team
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)