| Full Name: |
Gendut Donny Chrsitiawan |
| Place of Birth: |
Salatiga, Central Java |
| Date of Birth: |
December 7, 1978 |
| Height: |
175 cm |
| Weight: |
69 kg |
| Position: |
Striker |
| Clubs: |
Jakarta F.C. (1999-...) |
Article from The
Strait Times
He is 22 years old, wears jersey No. 22 and hopes to make it two goals
each for the semi-finals and the final of the Tiger Cup.
Indonesia's new-found striking sensation Gendut Christiawan, whose
double against Vietnam in the semi-final on Thursday took his team to
the final against Thailand, is the player to watch tonight.
He failed to make the senior team until the Asian Cup last month. He
was not even looked at for the South-east Asia Games in Brunei last
year.
And, ranked fifth behind Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto, Rochy Puttiray, Bambang
Pamungkas and Miro Baldo Bento for the Asian Cup, he spent the entire
tournament on the bench.
He is in Bangkok only because Rochy did not get the release from his
Hongkong club, Instant Dict, while Bambang has been asked to return
to his club in Holland, EHC Norad
Once off the bench, there was no looking back for him. Gendut is now
the top scorer of the competition with five goals, one ahead of the
region's most accomplished striker -- Kiatisuk Senamuang.
The best of the five must be the double -- a header running in from
the blind side and a calm drive to the roof of the net from six metres
for the golden goal that took his team to the final.
Said Gendut: ""I just want to do my country proud. I love to play football
and when I am given the chance, I don't want to waste it. "
"It is a good team we have, and I don't want to let my team-mates down
after they work so hard to create the chances for me.''
He was born in East Jakarta and still plays for the East Jakarta Club
(Jakarta F.C.). But it was his selection to the national U-19 team four
years ago that gave him the break he deserved.
"When I was selected for the youth squad, I decided to give it my best.
It did not really pay off until I was called up for this squad,'' said
the Catholic in a predominantly-Muslim team.
He started playing for his school on the outskirts of Jakarta when
he was nine. It was back-street football at its best, he said.
When he was called up for the Combined Schools selection trials in
1996, one of hundreds from all over the archipelago, he felt a desire
to play for Indonesia.
"I felt that I had a chance,'' Gendut said. ""But when I was left out
of the SEA Games and the last Tiger Cup, I did not feel too good. Deep
down, I knew I was good enough.''
And when the call came for the Asian Cup squad, he promised himself
that he would displace Rochy or Miro. Kurniawan, he felt, was a different
class altogether. He never got the chance, but he never gave up.
"When I started scoring here, a heavy burden lifted off me. Finally,
I am convincing some people that they should consider me,'' he said.
""My aim now is to keep Rochy or Bambang out of the squad. One way is
to score in the final.''
Confidence and self-belief are behind the rise of Gendut, so named
because his parents hoped for a plump child.
He may not have lived up to their expectations off the field, but he
is definitely doing them proud on it.
picture from BolaNews
Sportsline
data from Ligina
