The Indonesian national soccer team had just started exercises on Friday (July 15, 2011) after its new coach Wilhelmus Wim Rijbergen from Holland arrived in Jakarta.
The All-Indonesia Soccer Association (PSSI) under its new chairman Djohar Arifin Husin entrusted the Dutch coach Wim Rijsbergen to train the national team.
Wim replaced Alfred Riedl as the national team`s chief coach although Riedl`s working contract will expire only in May 2012.
PSSI has awarded a two-year contract to Wim Rijsbergen to train the national team.
Halim Mahfudz, the PSSI media officer, said here on Saturday (July 16) the talks between the former coach of the Ajax Amsterdam junior team with the PSSI management took place on Friday (July 15).
"Talks have already been made and Wim expressed his readiness to become chief coach of the national team. The contract will be valid for two years," Mahfudz said briefly.
Thus, the former coach for Trinidad & Tobago national team will officially lead the national team`s exercises for the 2014 Pre World Cup (PPD) and several international matches including the SEA Games in 2011.
Although PSSI has not yet made a formal statement relating to the working contract, Wim Rijsbergen had led the national team exercises at the PSSI soccer field in Senayan in the last couple of days with the coaching assistance of Rahmat Darmawan.
Wim Rijsbergen was appointed by the Djohar Arifin Husin-led PSSI following the dismissal of the former national team`s chief coach Alfred Riedl.
Apart from discharging Riedl, PSSI also dismissed the national coach assistant Wolfgang Pikal.
Riedl had asked about the reason for his dismissal, although he could accept the PSSI`s decision.
According to the PSSI spokesman, Alfred Riedl`s performance was actually good.
Commenting on Rield`s discharge, former national soccer team player Herry Kiswanto deplored the dismissal of the national team`s chief coach and expressed concern the discharge will complicate the national team`s chances in the SEA Games.
"I have just heard about it (Riedl`s dismissal) from news reports on Friday morning, but I think there has been mis-communication in the case. But if it is true that Riedl has been dismissed, it will complicate the national team`s position in the near future," Herry said here on Friday.
Herry Kiswanto, a national libero in the 1970s, said not to make too much fuss about the reasons for the dismissal.
Meanwhile, the Jakarta soccer supporters group "Jakmania" also deplored the PSSI`s decision to dismiss Alfred Riedl from his position as the national team`s chief coach.
"We strongly deplore the PSSI`s hurried decision," Jakmania chairman Rico Ranggamone said in Jakarta on Thursday.
"Riedl somehow still has duties and responsibilities as chief coach," Rico reminded.
However Riedl already made many accomplishments when the national team reached the finals of the AFF Cup in December 2010, he said.
In the meantime, the national senior team conducted its exercises on Friday (July 15) with team players who have been called to join the team namely Markus Haris Maulana, Ferry Rotinsulu, Kurnia Meiga (keepers).
Back players -- Hamka Hamzah, M. Roby, Ricardo Salampessy, Gunawan Dwi Cahyo, Wahyu Trisnanto, M. Nasuha, Beny Wahyudi, Zulkifli Syukur, Supardi.
Midfielders -- Oktovianus Maniani, Arif Suyono, M. Ridwan, Firman Utina, M. Ilham, Ahmad Bustomi, Eka Ramdani, Toni Sucipto, Egi Melgiansyah.
Forward -- Cristian Gonzales, Bambang Pamungkas, Ferdinand Sinaga and Boaz Salosa.
But Boaz Salossa was late and expected to join the national training center in Jakarta on Sunday night because he received information to join the exercise only on Friday (July 15) from his uncle in Jayapura, capital of Papua province.
Boaz at the moment was taking his holidays in Sorong, Rahmat Darmawan said, adding the delay can be tolerated. Sorong is about 1,000 kilometers from Jayapura by land.
On Friday, the players, mostly those reinforcing the national team at the last 2010 AFF, performed light exercises and games.
In addition, Rahmat Darmawan was not quite sure whether or not Irfan Bachdim can be fielded in Turkmenistan due to his rather unfavorable health condition.
"Irfan`s leg had bruises, probably due to the long competition holidays and started bearing football boots only a few days ago," Darmawan said, noting that Irfan had just returned from Holland.
Darmawan believed that Irfan can possibly strengthen the national team at the second meeting of the PPD match when Indonesia host the event in Jakarta on 28 July.
Following the team exercise on Sunday, Darmawan said the coaches have got the picture of 18 players of the squad that will be brought to the Pre-World Cup matches against Turkmenistan in Ashgabat on July 23, but he could not as yet announce their names.
Despite the lack of preparations, national team manager Ferry Kodrat remains optimistic that the national team will achieve the best results.
(Uu.B003/H-NG/S012)
Reporter: by Bustanuddin
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
