INDONESIA: ARE THINGS LOOKING UP?

Indonesia may have gone out at the first hurdle, but the lessons from playing in successive Asian Cup tournaments are being learned, writes Michael Church.

Just like four years ago, Indonesia came into this year’s Asian Cup as outsiders, no-hopers even, a nation that everyone expected to be on the first plane back to Jakarta.

Instead they proved that, on any given day, they are capable of matching some of the continent’s best by drawing 0-0 with Kuwait in their opening game, claiming a point off the Gulf Cup winners just as they had done at the last Asian Cup.

Four years ago, after taking a two-goal lead with two of the finest goals of the tournament from Ronny Wabia and Widodo C. Putro, the Kuwaitis pulled them back to claim a draw before going on to reach the semi-finals.

It was a different story this time and only the final outcome was the same. A disciplined performance with flashes of flair from attacking duo Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto and Rochy Puttiray earned the Indonesians praise from all quarters.

Puttiray put the early showing down to changes within the set up in Asia’s third largest nation. “Everything in Indonesia is better than before,” said the Hong Kong-based striker with the multi-coloured hair. “The management of the team, the federation and the people around the team are better now. They’re more interested in football … they’re more responsible, and that’s helping football in Indonesia.

“The experience from four years ago has helped. We brought a good team here with more depth than before. Last time I didn’t play because I was injured but I can see that the team are stronger than before.”

While the outcome this time around was the same as in the UAE, with Indonesia finishing bottom of the group, they did prove their footballing quality. Where Nandar Iskandar’s team struggled was in the physical department. Against China, the superior physique of Bora Milutinovic’s side earned them a 4-0 win, with three goals in the first 10 minutes of the game in the second round of group matches. And as the tournament went on, Indonesia’s semi-professionals tired quicker than everyone else.

Physical conditioning seems to be a major problem for the South East Asians. Until that is improved, Indonesia are unlikely to be able to string together a series of results in a competition of this kind.

“China were a much better team than us,” said Rochy. “We have to admit that. It was an honour to play against them. But we have to be realistic about what we can achieve.”

However, young striker Bambang Pamungkas said he was disappointed with Indonesia’s showing at the continental championship, claiming the team did not show their true, attacking colours. “We played defensively in every game,” said the 20-year-old. “The lesson we learned at the Asian Cup is that Indonesian football is not as good as the rest of Asia.”

A 3-0 loss to Korea Republic in the final group match saw Huh Jung-moo’s side take one of the best third-place slots in the quarter-finals. That left the Indonesians having conceded seven goals in three games, a record they have no need to be ashamed of given that both China and Korea went on to qualify for the semi-finals of the tournament while Kuwait almost ousted Saudi Arabia.

“We are very glad that we had the chance to show our football at this tournament while bringing more experience into Indonesian football,” said coach Iskandar after the loss to the Koreans. “We hope this will bring up the level of our football in the future.”

Changes are afoot within Indonesia with plans to restructure the league. Whether those will go deep enough to see the nation match the top sides in Asia remains to be seen. No one doubts the individual ability of the South East Asians in a one-off match, as the Kuwaitis found out, but success in tournament play requires more than ability and potential. The Indonesians know what they have to do.

from: AFC Website