PSM: Carrying Two Big Targets

The nickname "Ayam Jantan dari Timur" ("Macho Cocks from the East") really fits PSM. Ever since the beginning of Indonesian League (LI), this team from Makassar, South Sulawesi (Celebes) has almost never been absent from Senayan. The pinnacle was last season when they became the champions in of LI VI.

The addition of four top players for next season is sure to only strengthen Bima Sakti and friends. One can say that the current PSM squad is smaller version of Indonesian national team with the new presence of Suwandi H.S., Fouda Ntsama, Alexander Pulalo, and Uston Nawawi.

"Looking at the players, PSM is nearly without a flaw. The loss of Aji Santoso will not mean much because now Alex is here," commented Iljas Haddade, a football analyst in Makassar.

Surely it's not without a reason that the management of PSM is doing all they can to retain the winning team, and even add new bloods. PSM is carrying two big targets on their shoulders: to defend their President's Trophy (league title) and to make it to the semifinals of Asian CHampions Cup.

Can they? "Our ambitions are very high, to become the first team in history to win the league twice in a row, and also to become the first Indonesian club to get through to the big four of Asian Champions Cup. For this, we have to have a really strong team," said Kadir Halid firmly.

To make those histories, PSM also improves on the non-technical factors of their team. They professionalize the management so that they can work more effectively and efficiently, and also educate the supporters so that they can be more creative in supporting their beloved team.

Even though all things seem well and ready, it doesn't mean that they're without a problem. The tug-of-war between the management and the city officials about the funding of the team, can be a time bomb.

Until now, it's not clear whether the city has prepared 3B Rp. for the team, as was agreed earlier by both parties. If not, then it's bad news for the Juku Eja ("Red Fish" -- another nickname of PSM's), because Nurdin Halid has said strongly a long time ago that he will not want to be the only responsible for PSM's financial matters. It's not impossible that if this problem is not resolved soon, the team and management will break down in the middle of battle to achieve all their dreams.

Another problem is that PSM is feared to lose half of their squad when their national players are called up next year for the World Cup Qualification matches.

We of course always support the national team and the national programs, but the FAI also has to understand that those players called have very important roles in the club. We definitely will ask for match postponements and such when the time comes," explained Syamsuddin Umar, PSM's head coach.

source: www.bolanews.com