SENAYAN Special Coverage

Club Preview: PSM Makassar

Courtesy of Firstxi.com

Overview

Indonesia may be a South-East Asian country but they, together with Thailand, are beginning to make a name for themselves on the Asian football scene. Their recent qualification for the Asian Cup was an indication and renewed optimism now floods the local game.

PSM Makassar certainly benefits from that change. The league title in 1999 was their first in history but they have carried the momentum forward, qualifying now for the latter stages of the Asian Club Championships. They certainly have been impressive in the earlier rounds, scorng 15 goals in 4 matches while conceeding only 2.

With the round-robin group stage to be held in Indonesia itself, who is to say that there will be no more surprises in store for the fanatical home fans?

Tactics

Coach Syamsudin Umar often uses the ultra-offensive minded 4-2-4 (which explains the high goal count in the earlier rounds) but against strong opponents, he will revert back to the 4-4-2.

Key internationals in the side would include midfielders Aji Santoso, Bima Sakti and goalkeeper Hendro Kartiko although they will have to make the switch from the sweeper system that the national team uses.

Sakti actually anchors the midfield and he provides Brazilian import Carlos de Mello with the platform for his probing passes. The rest of the squad is also filled with promising young players who are always ready to step into the team the moment any of the regulars lose their form. Coach Umar though recognises that on the big stage, there is no substitute for experience.

It is in attack that PSM is most dangerous and admired. Cameroonian Fouda Ntsama lends his exotic skills while Timourese Miro Baldo Bento has been the terror of the Indonesian league for a long time now. What makes the trio complete though is one-time wonderboy Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto who drives the team forward with great skills and one-touch play.

This trio was responsible for all the 15 goals that were struck by PSM and all hopes of further success rest squarely on their shoulders.

Player to Watch:

Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto

The bad boy of Indonesian football is back on the field. His close control and skills haven't left him even though he was out for so long.

Determined to make it this time, Kurniawan knows that his rehablitation will be complete only if he can lead his club to glory.