Wullems after clarification of national soccer training

JAKARTA (JP): National soccer coach Henk Wullems wants the controversy surrounding his salary set aside until the team's training program has been clarified.

"I think that the salary is number two. The main priority is the clarification of the training program which I have already prepared," Wullems said Tuesday, referring to the review of his salary which is paid in U.S. dollars.

Wullems said he understood the extent of the economic crisis tormenting Indonesia, which has caused a number of training programs to be reviewed.

According to the coach, the All Indonesia Football Federation (PSSI) has not yet approved his suggested training programs.

"All I want is that the problems of the training programs be finalized. If we cannot hold trial matches with foreign teams, this should be clarified so that I can adjust the national training programs," Wullems said, as quoted by the daily Kompas.

Despite Wullems' demands, the association is considering replacing Wullems following the coach's demand that he wants to be paid in U.S. dollars based on the prevailing exchange rate.

Nirwan Dermawan Bakrie, the association's technical director, said recently that the federation and Wullems had met to discuss the coach's salary.

"Wullems insisted that he be paid in U.S. dollars. PSSI then proposed a salary of US$10,000 to Wullems based on an exchange rate of Rp 4,000. Wullems rejected the proposal," Nirwan said.

Wullems, however, knew that he was still needed to handle the national team. He had convinced the federation that he was capable of training the team until the Asian Games in Bangkok this December.

"This is part of the contract with PSSI. I have already prepared a training program for the Bangkok Games. I certainly don't want the program to be pending," Wullems said.

The coach denied that he had set a deadline for the completion of the training program.

"The most important thing is before the players meet on Feb. 5, the program should already be finalized. My biggest concern is to improve the quality of the national team," Wullems said. (lnt)