By Bustanuddin Jakarta - Indonesia's under-23-years-old (U-23) national soccer team in the upcoming South East Asian Games (SEA Games) was unexpectedly placed in group A together with the previous SEA Games champion, Malaysia. In the toss-up which was conducted at the RCTI television station studio here on October 19, 2011, the teams which were set in group A comprised Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Cambodia. While group B consisted of Vietnam, Laos, Brunei Darussalam, Timor Leste, Myanmar and the Philippines. Malaysia and Vietnam were the champion and runner-up respectively in the 2009 SEA Games. In accordance with the South East Asian Football Federation (AFF)`s rules, the champion and the runner-up of the 2009 SEA Games in Laos, should be separated in the toss-up. In the meantime, the Indonesian U-23 team coach Rahmad Darmawan was surprised to learn the results of the toss-up as well as expressed his disappointment. Commenting on the toss-up results, Rahmad said "Right now we stay focused in order to pass the group stage," he stated following his team's exercise in Jakarta's Bung Karno main stadium. Darmawan said he had prepared strategy to face all teams in the group A which were considered to be better than the U-23 "We have watched the ability of other teams," the former Persija Jakarta and the Sriwijaya FC elevens coach said, noting that his team has got improvement after undergoing try-out matches with Persib Bantul soccer club recently. The U-23 had so far faced several senior local teams namely Persiba Bantul (Yogyakarta), Persikab Bandung, Semen Padang and Mitra Kukar club from East Kalimantan. On September 9, the U-23 played 1-1 draw with Persiba in Bantul, Yogyakarta. In addition, the U-23 national team beat Persikab Bandung district selection team 3-1 (2-0) at the Si Jalak Harupat Soreang, Bandung district, West Java province on Saturday (Oct 1/2011). On October 4, the U-23 without its four pillars namely Yongki Ariwibowo, Ferdinand Sinaga, Zulham Zamrun and Irfan Bahcdim played Semen Padang club in the H. Agus Salim stadium, Padang, West Sumatra. In the friendly match, both teams shared 1-1 draw. The U-23 team on Friday beat the Mitra Kukar club 5-1 (2-0) at a friendly match in the Bung Karno main stadium. The coach, Rahmad Darmawan, however, said his team should play Timor Leste team in a try-out match which will be conducted on Tuesday (Oct.25). In the face of the stronger teams in group A such as Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore, one of the U-23 players Egi Melgiansyah expressed a high spirit to play the teams. "We are not afraid," he said after performing exercise prior to face Timor Leste next week. In the meantime, Benny Dolo, former coach of the national senior team opined that the national U-23 will face heavy burden in group A. Benny Dollo also expressed his confidence that the national team can become champion if it successfully beat Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. The toss-up program which was attended by representatives of all participating countries was also followed by the All-Indonesia Football Association (PSSI) general chairman Djohar Arifin Husin, PSSI secretary general Tri Goestoro and the South East Asian Games (SEA) Games organizing committee (INASOC) chairman Rahmat Gobel. During the SEA Games, a total of 542 gold medals will be contested in 44 sports games. In Palembang, SEA Games will be held at the Jakabaring sports complex. Half of the 44 sports games will be held in the South Sumatra capital city of Palembang.

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Editor : FAROCHA


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