Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Persibo's victory was no upset
The local media are desribing it as an embarrassment but was it? Going into yesterday’s Copa Indonesia clash between Pelita Jaya and Persibo Bojonegoro did we really believe it was going to be a home banker?
Pelita Jaya can’t buy a goal these days. One against Persita, one against Persijap, one against PSMS, it doesn’t need a FIFA A license to see where Fandi’s men are having problems.
Yesterday they gave a debut to new signing James Koko Lomel but he was relplaced at half time by the consistently underachieving Rudi Widodo. If there are any PJ fans then they must have known all was already lost. 1-0 down with only one recognized goal scorer on the pitch and 45 minutes left.
But we knew before about Persibo and especially their young striker Syamsul Arief. It tells something about the game in Indonesia that the 24 year old is considered young where in many countries he would already be a full international and playing with one of the big clubs.
Fandi Ahmad, a coach known for giving youth its steam, went for the tried and trusted Liberian Lomel to partner Lopes rather than take a punt on Arief.
The big clubs are reluctant to try promising young talent. Arema among others have been looking for strikers but they cast their net overseas. Instead it is the smaller sides who give it a go, witness Persitara signing up Mostapha Aji.
Syamsul now has seven goals in this season’s Copa Indonesia. He’s bound to move on during the mid season which starts in June but to where? Will it be some team with little ambition or will one of the big boys take the gamble?
Pelita Jaya can’t buy a goal these days. One against Persita, one against Persijap, one against PSMS, it doesn’t need a FIFA A license to see where Fandi’s men are having problems.
Yesterday they gave a debut to new signing James Koko Lomel but he was relplaced at half time by the consistently underachieving Rudi Widodo. If there are any PJ fans then they must have known all was already lost. 1-0 down with only one recognized goal scorer on the pitch and 45 minutes left.
But we knew before about Persibo and especially their young striker Syamsul Arief. It tells something about the game in Indonesia that the 24 year old is considered young where in many countries he would already be a full international and playing with one of the big clubs.
Fandi Ahmad, a coach known for giving youth its steam, went for the tried and trusted Liberian Lomel to partner Lopes rather than take a punt on Arief.
The big clubs are reluctant to try promising young talent. Arema among others have been looking for strikers but they cast their net overseas. Instead it is the smaller sides who give it a go, witness Persitara signing up Mostapha Aji.
Syamsul now has seven goals in this season’s Copa Indonesia. He’s bound to move on during the mid season which starts in June but to where? Will it be some team with little ambition or will one of the big boys take the gamble?
# posted by Me @ 9:56 AM 
