Indonesia Topics

FC Bayern Munchen and Indonesia’s national soccer team pledged an entertaining performance for their friendly match this Wednesday.

Munchen’s coach Ottmar Hitzfeld said at a Tuesday press conference players were ready to play their best despite a tiring flight.

He said he had prepared 17 young players to take on the hosts, and hoped they could provide some “technical football lessons” to Indonesian players.

“I also hope the Indonesian footballers can perform their best so that we can score as many goals as possible,” he said.

Indonesia coach Benny Dolo said he instructed his players to fight hard in the game, which will be held at Bung Karno Stadium in Central Jakarta.

“I asked them not to overestimate Munchen even though they have world-class players,” he said.

It has been rare for a world-caliber team to visit Indonesia, he said, and he urged the players to make the most of the opportunity.

“By playing against Munchen, we will have a chance to learn modern football,” he said.

Munchen, the winner of the German League and the German Cup, will play without several starters, including Miroslav Klose, Phillips Lahm and Lucas Podolski, who are busy preparing for the Euro Championship.

Benny had yet to decide who would lead the team, although Ponaryo Astaman would seem the most likely choice.

Munchen is also expected to stop over in China and India for other friendly matches in the trip, which is part of the farewell Asian Tour by former German international goalkeeper Oliver Kahn.

The 38-year-old has just quit the world of soccer after having been a professional player for 21 years, 14 years of which were for Munchen. Kahn resigned from the national team two years ago.

During his career with Munchen, Kahn led the club to eight German titles and a Champions League win in 2001. He was also named best goalkeeper and best player in the World Cup in 2002.

Kahn said he would take a break from soccer and had not yet planned to start a new career as a goalkeeper coach.

“I have been spending years as a footballer and it’s time for me to think of something else,” he said.

He said he planned to remain in the soccer world by being a commentator and helping the German team.

“I also hope I can get involved in football-related social actions in the near future,” he said. (The Jakarta Post)

Tonight may be the worst night for Indonesia’s male badminton players and officials. Surprisingly, they lost 0-3 from South Korea. Taufik Hidayat, the 2nd Indonesia’s single, even lost straight set 13-21 14-21 to Hyun Ii Lee.

Indonesia’s first single, Sony Dwi Kuncoro defeated 21-12, 12-21, 21-18 from Park Sung Hwan and the first double Markis/Hendra lost 21-19 18-21 21-10 to Jung Jae Sung/Lee Yong Dae.

Indonesia last won the Thomas Cup back in 2002. Yet, they can’t get the trophy back.

The last hope for Indonesia will be female Uber Cup who will face China in Final tomorrow. We wish you luck, guys!

Host Indonesia cruised into the final of the Uber Cup women team badminton championship on Thursday after trouncing Germany 3-1 in the semifinals.

Although losing the first single match, Indonesia bounced back by winning one double match and two singles matches against Germany.

Indonesia’s first single player Maria Kristin bowed out 20-21, 15-21 to Xu Huaiwen, but duo Jo Novita and Greysia Polii leveled the score, outwitting Germany’s pair Birgit Overzier and Kathrin
Piotrowshki 21-9, 21-13.

Indonesia took a 2-1 lead when Adriyanti Firdasari edged past Julianne Schenk 21-16, 22-20, before the last single player Pia Zebadiah ensured her country’s triumph over Germany with a 21-7, 21-16 win over Karin Schnaase.

Indonesia will take on defending champion and favorite China in the final, scheduled for Saturday.

It is Indonesia’s first final in ten years. The last time Indonesia won the Uber Cup was back in 1996. (The Jakarta post)

Indonesia turned out to be strong on Friday by beating Yaman 1-0 in a soccer friendly match between the two countries.

Striker Bambang Pamungkas scored the winner in the 35th minute after taking a pass from Firman Utina.

It was Indonesia’s first friendly match and victory under coach Benny Dollo, who replaced Ivan Kolev after his failure in the Southeast Asia Games last year. However, Bendol (Benny Dollo’s friendly name) says that his side did not satisfy him as a coach.

“You can see how the fitness from our team was very poor. Eka Ramdani olayed well in the first 20 minutes but then he play extremely under his best form afterwards. We still need a lot to do especially with some new players that have just joined for 2 weeks,” says Bendol.

Indonesia will face Bayern Munich in Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on 21st May, Tajikistan and New Zealand.

Indonesia Thomas & Uber Cup Badminton manager Luthfi Hamid released the squad that will be fighting for Indonesia badminton team. Thomas & Uber Cup will be held in Istora Senayan Jakarta Indonesia from 11-18 Mei 2008. In men singles, Taufik Hidayat, Athens Gold Medallist will still be leading the team.

Here is the list:

Thomas Cup:
Men’s Single:
1. Sony Dwi Kuncoro
2. Taufik Hidayat
3. Simon Santoso
4. Tommy Sugiarto

Men’s Double:
1. Markis Kido/Hendra Setiawan
2. Joko Riyadi/Hendra A. Gunawan
3. Chandra Wijaya/Nova Widianto

Uber Cup:
Women’s Single:
1. Maria Kristin
2. Adriyanti Firdasari
3. Pia Zebadiah
4. Fransiska Ratnasari

Women’s Double:
1. Jo Novita/Gryesia Polii
2. Rani Mundiasti/Endang Nursugiati
3. Lilyana Natsir/Vita Marrissa

JAKARTA, April 22 (Xinhua) — The sacred flame of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on early Tuesday arrived in Indonesian capital of Jakarta, the 14th leg of its global torch relay.

A chartered plane carrying the flame, which was ignited on March 24 in ancient Olympia of Greece, landed on the Halim military airport at local time 12:05 a.m. from Kuala Lumpur, capital of Malaysia.

Jiang Xiaoyu, vice president of the Beijing Organizing Committee of Olympic Games (BOCOG), carried the lantern of the flame and walked off the plane.

Upon arrival at the airport, the flame received a warm welcome by a cheering crowd, among whom are Vice President of the Indonesian National Sports Committee Hendarji Soepandji and other senior sports officials as well as more than 100 workers from Chinese companies in Indonesia.

Chinese ambassador to Indonesia Lan Lijun also came to the airport to welcome the flame of the Beijing Olympics, which is scheduled to be held this August.

The Jakarta leg of the torch relay, which will be held at the Gelora Bung Karno Sports Complex, central Jakarta, will start on Tuesday afternoon. Eighty torchbearers will take part in the event. (source)