Pre-World Cup: Nominations and Fixtures' Changes

National team's preparations for 2002 World Cup - Asian Qualifiers have brought some unpleasant effects to the competition of Indonesian League. Some matches are threatened to be postponed because clubs have to lose their players due to the national team training.

FAI (Football Association of Indonesia) Director of Competitions, Iswadi Idris, said, "If a club has two or more players called up to the national team, then that club has a right to request matches' postponements."

This policy has raised quite a few comments from head coaches whose clubs are bound to lose more than two players.

"It's a proud moment for any footballer to be called up to the national squad. But if many of our players are called up to the national squad, then we should get some fixtures' changed," said Dananjaya, head coach of Jakarta FC.

"We believe that FAI will be wise and will settle this matter well," said Rudy William Keltjes, head coach of Persebaya Surabaya.

"I'm expected to do the best with the club, meaning having all my squad complete and ready, though I know that national importance cannot be set aside," said Syamsuddin Umar, head coach of PSM Makassar, whom are expected to have five players called up to the national team.

And the problem doesn't stop there. If the league's matches are postponed, then clubs' training programs have to be changed as well. For example, PSM Makassar who will compete in the 2000/2001 Asian Champions Cup from March 21 - 25. The event itself will be played in Makassar.

"It's impossible to expect the players to be on their top forms in the middle of the national training center, and the league's schedules, and the Cup," said Syam.

Meanwhile, nominations for the national squad continue on. After watching several matches in the Eastern Conference, FAI scout Tumpak Sihite have added a couple new names, and quite a few of them are from Persebaya Surabaya. National team head coach Benny Dollo himself will have to scratch himself in the head evaluating the many names that have been nominated.

Reformation in the national team is being carried on, with the team consist of mainly young players. But Benny said that there are at least six players from last year's Asian Cup and Tiger Cup remain in the squad. He realizes that a team consisting of young and inexperienced players, no matter how talented, will be easy preys to opponents in international level. Especially remembering that one of Indonesia's opponents in the group is China.

"We have about eighty percent of U23 players. The core of the team still consists of returning and experienced players, though many of them are also young in age," said a person in the inside, who refused to give out his name. He also gave a list of the nominated players who are in Benny's hands at this moment.

For a complete list of Indonesia's matches in the group stage of 2002 World Cup - Asian Qualifiers, please refer to the National Team section of this website.

For a list of probable players to be called up, please read the article Probable players to be called up the national squad.

source: BolaNews Sportsline