SPORTS> Games News
Indonesian soccer team sent home early from Doha
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-11-24 14:24

While most athletes will leave for Doha, Qatar, next Monday, the national soccer team will be heading home after losing its two matches in the qualifying round for the 15th Asian Games.

Indonesia fell 4-1 to Syria late Tuesday after earlier losing 6-0 to Iraq.

The team, led by under-23 national coach Foppe de Haan of the Netherlands, has one last match against Singapore on Friday, but even a win will not be enough to qualify for the Asiad.

"That's really bad news for all of us. But I hope this will help motivate the rest of the national squad to perform their best in Doha," National Sports Council (KONI) chairman Agum Gumelar was quoted Thursday by The Jakarta Post newspaper as saying.

The former chief of the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI), however, defended his decision to send the soccer team to Doha despite its poor showing in several international tournaments leading up to the Asian Games.

"The AFC (Asian Football Confederation) asked KONI and PSSI to send the team since we have missed the last four Asian Games. Besides, we had to send the team because we are hosting the final round of the Asian Cup next year," Agum said.

National coach Peter Withe of England said he would not walk away from his job despite calls for his resignation following a string of poor performances.

"I will not change my tactics," Withe wrote on the Asian Football Confederation's website.

"As a coach, my view is different from that of the media. Every time we fail they call for a change (of coach) and when we win they demand the same thing.

"My contract ends next year and I will stay on till then. I am a fighter and a winner."