Wullems says RI must beat Malaysia, the Philippines

Wullems says RI must beat Malaysia, the Philippines

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia faces an uphill task in the SEA Games
soccer competition, having only drawn against Vietnam Tuesday and
with its remaining group matches being against Malaysia and the
Philippines.

After only winning 5-2 over lowly Laos in the first game on
Sunday and being held 2-2 by 10-man Vietnam, coach Henk Wullems
says there is no choice but for Indonesia to win against Malaysia
and the Philippines.

"Victories over Malaysia and the Philippines will ensure
Indonesia avoids meeting Thailand in the semifinals. Thailand is
predicted to win Group A," Wullems said after the match between
Indonesia and Vietnam on Tuesday.

Wullems was not satisfied with the team's performance and
admitted that the main weakness was the defense.

"The last goal from Vietnam would not have happened if our
defense had been strong. I will concentrate on improving the
defensive line," Wullems said.

Indonesia plays Malaysia at the Senayan Stadium at 4 p.m.
today and meets the Philippines at 6:15 p.m. Sunday at the same
venue.

Thailand has won both its first two matches, defeating Myanmar
2-1 Sunday and crushing minnow Brunei Darussalam 6-0 Tuesday.

With the two victories, Thailand leads the Group A standings
with six points. Cambodia is in second on three points, following
its 4-0 win over Brunei on Sunday. In third is Singapore with one
point after a 2-2 draw against Myanmar on Tuesday and with a game
in hand.

Malaysia leads Group B with six points, followed by Indonesia
with four points and Vietnam with one point, with each having two
matches remaining.

The men's soccer semifinals will be staged on Oct. 16 at the
Senayan stadium, the first between the Group A champion and the
Group B runner up at 4 p.m., and the Group B champion against the
runner up of Group A at 6:30 p.m.

The final will be held on Oct. 18 at the same stadium at 6:30
p.m. after the match for the third place, which starts at 4:30
p.m.

The organizers have complained about the behavior of some
spectators at the Senayan Stadium during the match between
Indonesia and Laos, when plastic bottles were thrown on to the
field.

Rudolf S. Warouw, the secretary-general of the Indonesian
Sports Council said Tuesday that such an incident should not have
happened.

"What a shame if we see spectators throwing plastic bottles
onto the field. Such a thing should not occur," Rudolf said.

Rudolf hoped the spectators would show that Indonesia could be
a good host.

But Asian football supremo Peter Velappan urged Indonesian
football authorities yesterday to improve security and safety at
soccer matches in the 19th Jakarta SEA Games.

"The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is disappointed that
in the last two matches involving Indonesia, the crowd control
and behavior of fans was totally unsatisfactory," Velappan, the
general secretary of AFC said in a statement.

"The AFC had once again to remind the (Jakarta) SEA Games
organizing committee to step up enforcement of crowd control
before, during and after matches, main entrance with a police
escort being provided for the team bus.

"Security measures should ensure that spectators do not take
in plastic bottles, umbrellas and canned drinks which can pose a
threat to safety within the stadium," he said, as reported by AFP
from Kuala Lumpur.

Velappan said the problems encountered by AFC officials during
the matches included those of spectators throwing bottles and
other objects onto the field.

Other security violations include lack of control with
spectators walking along the track and many of them seated close
to steps used by teams and referees to reach the stadium, he
said.

Velappan warned the local organizing committee that they would
be held responsible if the lack of safety measures led to any
incidents.

In the women's competition, held at the Pajajaran Stadium,
Bogor on Tuesday, Indonesia drew 1-1 against Myanmar while
Thailand beat Vietnam 3-2.

The women's competition today sees Myanmar meeting Malaysia at
4 p.m. and Vietnam playing against the Philippines at 6:15 p.m.
(lnt)