Final List of Players Get Called-Up

As many as 34 players from 13 different clubs have been called up to join the national team selection and training center for 2002 World Cup Qualifiers. Among them is Joao Bosco Cabral, Persikota Kab. Tangerang's fullback who qualifies as a citizen of Timor Leste (East Timor).

From the training center, there will be 25 players selected for the main squad.

"I actually wanted to lower the number to 20 players, but after some thoughts and discussions with FAI Chairman, Agum Gumelar, we decided to take 25 players. We plan to announce the final selection on March 31," said Benny Dollo, the national team head coach.

As his assistant, Benny has been paired with Barito Putra's head coach, Mundari Karya. Former national goalie Sudarno has been appointed as the goalkeepers' coach while Safruddin Fabanyo as the fitness coach. This is different from an earlier press release that said that the goalkeepers' coach was Arjuna Rinaldi and the fitness coach was Tahir Djide.

According to Benny, the team's composition consists of many young players. This is for the purpose of giving talented youth players more experience in international level, so that they'll be ready for SEA Games XXI in Malaysia later this year.

When asked about the call up for Joao Bosco Cabral, Benny said that he and his team only followed the procedures lined up by the FAI. Since Joao status in the league is local, meaning an Indonesian, then there should be no problem for him representing the Red-and-White Squad.

"His status at this moment is a local, Indonesian player, and that's the base for our call-up. Whether he will decide to become the citizen of Indonesia or East Timor, it's not my concern," said Benny.

This is not the first problem the national team faced with players of East Timor origin. For the 2000 Tiger Cup in Thailand, there was controversy surrounding the call-up of striker Miro Baldo Bento, whom at one point confessed to the press that he assumed East Timorese citizenship. This problem quieted down, however, as soon as he was allowed by the FAI to play in the tournament.

Meanwhile, to build the team's strength, Benny Dollo will only have six friendlies with local clubs before the first match of the Qualifiers.

"It's very hard to find foreign opponents while the competitions are underway. It's even made worse by the short time that we have before the Qualifiers start," said Benny.

Because of that, Benny asked all parties to be realistic in this group's qualification, especially since Indonesia is drawn in the same group as China.

"To face China, I expect each and every player in the national team to play bravely and never give up."

For a complete list of Indonesia's fixtures in the 2002 World Cup Qualifiers, please refer to the National Team page.

Goalkeepers: Hendro Kartiko (PSM Makassar), Wawan Darmawan (Jakarta FC), I Komang Putra Adnyana (Persebaya Surabaya), Ari Kurniawan (Persita Tangerang)

Defenders: Sugiantoro (Persebaya Surabaya), Ronny Ririn (PSM Makassar), Warsidi (Persija Jakarta), Eko Purjianto and Aples Tecuari (Pelita Solo), Jet Donald La Ala (PKT Bontang), Joao Bosco Cabral (Persikota Kab. Tangerang), Anwar Panda (Persita Tangerang), Rolando Khoibur (Jakarta FC), Octavianus Kanath (Persipura Jayapura), Isnan (Barito Putra), Supriono (PSMS Medan)

Midfielders: Bima Sakti (PSM Makassar), Uston Nawawi and Agung Setyabudi (Persebaya Surabaya), Elly Aiboy and Erol F.X. Iba (Semen Padang), Firman Utina (Persita Tangerang), Seto Nurdiyantoro and Maman (Pelita Solo), Edward Ivak Dalam (Persipura Jayapura), Ismed Sofyan (Jakarta FC), Andrian Mardiansyah (Persikota Kab. Tangerang), Yaris Riyadi (Persib Bandung)

Strikers: Budi Sudarsono and Gendut Dony Christiawan (Persija Jakarta), Bambang Pamungkas (Persija Jakarta, loaned from Dutch EHC Norad), Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto (PSM Makassar), Zaenal Arif (Persita Tangerang)

source: Media Indonesia Online