Wullems after clarification of national soccer training
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)