Tuesday, November 01, 2011
Hendro Is Back
The aging Hendro Kartiko has received a surprise recall to the Indonesian national team ahead of their World Cup Qualifiers. Kartiko, now with newly promoted Mitra Kukar, is one of four keepers named in the squad.
The others are I Made Wirawan (Persiba), Ferry Rotinsulu (Sriwijaya) and Samsidar (Semen Padang). The eagle eyed out there will have noticed a glaring omission. Markus Horison, who has been pretty much the first choice keeper for the last few years found himself on the bench last game at home to Qatar. Well, now he ain't even in the squad.
What is interesting is how his omission is reported. It isn't! Rather like when the captain Charis Yulianto was dropped it raised hardly a ripple. In other countries it would be headline news.
The squad sees first call ups for newly naturalised Indonesians Greg Nwokolo and Victor Igbonefo while Persipura striker Boas Solossa continues his in out international career after a disappointing time last game.
What is interesting about the squad; players from clubs outside Java dominate reflecting the status of the game at the moment.
Oh yeah, something else worthy of comment. Bambang Pamungkas is in the squad despite the fact his Persija don't want anything to do with the officially sanctioned LPI. But that is another tale...and one too tiring for me to go into for now.
# posted by Me @ 4:15 PM 
