Bring Juergen Klinsmann to Jakarta. The German helped his country finish
third at the 2006 World Cup. No, better call Marcelo Lippi who helped
Italy win the coveted trophy.
But even with the best coach in the world, it is impossible to picture
Indonesia qualifying for the World Cup.
Sounds cynical? Well, who wouldn't be?
It has been 15 years since Indonesia won a soccer title. That was the
1991 Southeast Asian Games gold medal. Since then there has been nothing.
Coaches have come and gone for the last 15 years, and the national squad
has continued to flounder at the international level.
Forget the World Cup. A more realistic target is winning the SEA Games
gold. And 2007 could be a make or break year for the national side.
Hiring Klinsmann or Lippi would be too expensive, so the Soccer Association
of Indonesia (PSSI) has turned to Peter Withe of Britain, hoping he can
work the same sort of magic he did for Thailand. That country reached
the 1998 Asian Games semifinals in front of the home crowd and won the
Tiger Cup several times.
But so far in his two years in Indonesia, Withe has done little to boost
the country's achievements regionally or internationally. This year, the
national team's best showing was second place at the Merdeka Games in
Malaysia in August, losing in the final to Myanmar 0-1.
The country's Under-23 team, however, has been even worse, which is not
a good sign for the future.
Coached by Dutchman Fope de Haan, the U23 team lost all three of its matches2-0
against Cameroon, 1-0 versus Vietnam and 5-0 against Finland - at last
month's BV Cup in Vietnam.
De Haan also failed to guide Indonesia past the qualifying round for the
15th Asian Games in Doha. The national team lost 6-0 to Iraq, 4-1 to Syria
and drew 1-1 with Singapore. These poor results were gained after a three-month
overseas stint in the Netherlands that cost Rp 28 billion (US$3.07 million).
However, it is unfair to place all the blame on the coaches. Fingers also
have been pointed at the PSSI for its unorganized development programs.
With the country's team ranked 144th in the world, PSSI definitely needs
to take a hard look at its policies on national leagues. With two major
leagues - the Indonesian League and the Copa Dji Sam Soe - the PSSI's
Indonesian League Body (BLI) has issued a ruling stating that each club
is allowed to field five foreign players per match.
This policy has reduced the opportunities for locals to play, and now
many find themselves riding the bench. Besides, only rich clubs can hire
"quality" foreign players who can help them lift the trophy.
"We have just started to feel the negative impact from the domination
of foreign players in national competitions this year," national
goalkeeper Hendro Kartiko said.
"As a result, locals are playing less and that results in our inability
to sense and analyze the game, as well as improve our skills."
With less playing time, local players cannot be expected to perform at
their best for the national squad.
Withe consequently faces difficulties in building a strong team because
most players are unable to show their true potential.
Sometimes, Withe makes up to six changes a match because his first choices
are playing poorly. Such changes are risky because the players cannot
build solid teamwork both in the attack and defense.
The country's poor showing has prompted the PSSI to issue an ultimatum
to Withe to reach the final of the 2007 ASEAN Football Championship, formerly
known as the Tiger Cup, which will be jointly hosted by defending champion
Singapore and Thailand.
PSSI also hopes Withe can help Indonesia reach the final round of the
Asian Football Confederation Asian Cupco-hosted by Malaysia, Vietnam,
Thailand and Indonesia - in July.
Association chairman Nurdin Halid said that should Withe fail to do his
job, he must quit.
But veteran coach Endang Witarsa urged the PSSI to hold more friendly
matches against high-quality teams from abroad.
"By having more friendlies, our players will be able to judge the
match better and learn from their opponents how to play better soccer,"
said the 90-year-old Endang, who coached Indonesia to several international
titles in the 1970s, including the Merdeka Games.
Without frequent friendlies, he added,expect too much from the national
squad.
Endang also criticized the PSSI for its choice of coaches, saying the
national game did not mesh well with Europeans like Withe and de Haan.
"We are quick in sprint and in playing the ball with one-two touches.
Western European soccer is dominated by long passes and power as they
have big, tall and strong players," he said.
He suggested the PSSI turn to Latin American countries such as Brazil
or Argentina to learn how to improve the national players' skills and
techniques.
Perhaps Nurdin can make a call to Carlos Parreira, Brazil's ousted head
coach who is now helping South Africa prepare for the 2010 World Cup on
home soil. Or better still call Dunga, Brazil's current head coach, to
come to the rescue.
Moch. N. Kurniawan. , December 28, 2006.
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