The U-15 soccer team turned out as champion in the Asian Students Cup 2011 in Bangkok, Thailand, last week, while the U-16 team defeated Guam team 17-0 in Bangkok Yamaha stadium on Saturday (Sept.17).
In the final rounds of the Asian Students Cup Football Tournament in Bangkok, the Indonesian U-15 defeated Thailand team 2-1.
However, upon arrival at the Soekarno-Hatta international airport in Tangerang, Banten province, on Monday (Sept.12) the successful junior team was greeted only by the parents of the students and representatives of the Youth and Sports Ministry.
Meanwhile, Roni Iswandi, manager of the U-15 team said "We are very grateful and proud of the team`s victory".
In addition, chairman of the All-Indonesia Soccer Association (PSSI) Djohar Arifin Husin expressed hope that the U-15 team should not disperse because they are projected as the core players U-16 national team in 2012.
"This team should not disperse. You are expected to become core players in the U-16 national team next year," Djohar said when receiving the U-15 team in the PSSI office in Senayan, Jakarta on Thursday (Sept.15).
Djohar who was among others accompanied by one of the PSSI executive committee members Tony Apriliani received the U-15 team members led by their manager Roni Iswandi.
According to Djohar, PSSI should prepare teams at various age levels every year, so that a team that has a great achievement is potential to be developed further as the potential future players.
"You are all patriots and heroes. It is not easy to beat Thailand at its base because (you) also face pressure from the host audience," Djohar said, adding to the senior team it was very difficult to become champion even at the ASEAN level.
"Thus, we ask you not to be complacent too soon because it is still a long struggle", he reminded.
The U-15 team is composed of soccer players from the Indonesia Football Academy (IFA), Jakarta Football Academy (JFA), MUBA, and UNI Bandung.
Apart from being champion, the U-15 also won a fair play trophy and one of its strikers Indra Kelana Nasution was chosen as the best player and the top scorer, while Awan Setoraharjo as the best goalkeeper in the match.
In addition, the U-16 team grabbed third victory in the advanced matches stage of group G of the Pre Asian Cup U-16 at Yamaha Stadium in Bangkok on Saturday, after silencing Guam to a landslide score 17-0.
The young Indonesian team recorded five goals in the first half and scored another 12 goals in the second round. This is a huge victory for Indonesia`s young team, while Guam was unable to make the score.
Of the 17 goals, Ichsan Hari Kurniawan scored five goals at the minutes of 13,14,61,75,85, four goals by Teren Owang Priska Puhuri at 20,25,72,87, four goals by Tedi at 48,56,57,80, two goals by Marthinus Asso at 73,89 and another two goals respectively scored by Sabeq Fahmi Fachrozy at 26 and by Amirul Mukminin Hariansyah at 67.
Thus, Indonesia leads Group G standings followed by Thailand where both teams collecting nine points but the Indonesian team lead in goal difference, then Australia collected six points, Hong Kong`s three points, while Guam and Myanmar did not have points yet.
In group G, the Indonesian young team handled by its coach Indra Syafri should compete with strong teams like Australia, Thailand, Myanmar, Hong Kong and Guam.
At the next party, Indonesia will face host Thailand on Monday (Sept 19) and Australia on Wednesday (Sept 22).
In the meantime, however, the Indonesian senior soccer team suffered a painful defeat 0-2 to Bahrain at a home-match in the Jakarta`s Bung Karno main stadium on Tuesday (Sept.6) night.
In the match which was witnessed by some 70 thousand spectators including President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, two goals for Bahrain were respectively made by Sayed Dhiya Saeed at the 45th minute and Ismaeel Abdullatif Ismaeel at the 72nd minute.
Previously, on September 2, Indonesia lost 0-3 (0-0) to Iran in the third round of the Pre-World Cup 2011 round in group E at Tehran`s Azadi Stadium. While Bahrain at the time played Qatar and their match ended in a 0-0 draw.
Meanwhile, on early Wednesday, Qatar and Iran shared 1-1.
It was the second loss in the Pre-World Cup 2011 round in group E after the national team was defeated 0-3 (0-0) to the Iranian team.
Hopefully, the senior soccer team can learn a good lesson from the great successes of both the U-15 and the U-16 teams. (*)
B003/H-NG/S012
Reporter: Bustanuddin
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
