0 PSSI coach urges players to shape up for Asian Cup

National soccer team coach Nil Maizar is disgusted that his players have yet to shape up mentally for the Asian Cup qualifying matches. “Their mentality isn’t strong enough as this warm up game proves,” he said on Friday after witnessing his players losing 2-3 to Semen Padang at the Baharuddin Siregar Lubuk Pakam soccer stadium in Deli Serdang, North Sumatra. “This is only a local team... how can they face Iraq in the first qualifying matches of the Asian Game? They really need to put serious attention to this issue,” he said. 

Semen Padang took the lead in the first half with two goals from Titus Bonai and Edward Wilson Junior. Hendri Mofu reduced the gap before Edward retrieved his club’s two-goal lead immediately. The national team became more aggressive but only one goal was scored through Romaria Aibeko. He sprang an offside trap to score in the last minutes. Among disappointed spectators was the Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI) chairman Johar Arifin expressed. “This is so bad,” Nil Maizar said and blamed the burden of having to win for the defeat. 

Indonesia will face Iraq in Jordinia on Feb. 6 in Group C of the Asian Cup 2015 qualifications. China and Saudi Arabia make up the group. Nil said the players should improve their defense considering the postures and style of Iraq’s players who tend to attack. “National team will focus on strengthening its defense, and attack on the break against the Iraqi team,” he said, adding that he had studied the strength of Iraq’s team through video records. Team manager Mesakh Manibor said the defeat was a good lesson. “National team is lacking strikers. 

Therefore we will recruit three Semen Padang players, who showed good performances today,” he said, naming Titus Bonai, Josua Paobol and Ahmad Nur Iskandar. Mesakh added he had talked to Semen Padang management about the plan. The Medan training camp has been jolted by a revolt with the invited players refusing to join. As consequences, PSSI has punished 22 players. They play for the clubs competing in the Indonesian Super League (ISL) run by the breakaway Indonesian Soccer Rescue Committee (KPSI).

source : the jakarta post