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After waiting for months, Indonesia’s team for the 2009 Southeast Asian Games is almost sorted.

The Indonesian National Team Body (BTN) appointed Uruguayan Alberto Bica as the under-23 team’s head coach ahead of its September training camp in Palembang, South Sumatra.

“The National Team Body will announce the squad the upcoming week, but I have decided on 25 out of 33 players to join the selection,” Bica told state-run news agency Antara. “I also plan to call five more players, including Boaz Solossa, Imanuel Wanggai and Ian Kabes.”

The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) put Bica in charge after Cesar Payovich returned to Uruguay to take care of his sick wife.

Though the team was selected, the BTN disbanded the training camp for the fasting month. Instead, the camp will start in late September.

Under the Payovich regime, the under-23 team lost tryout matches to Iran’s U-23s and its senior team, Malaysia’s U-23s and Singapore U-23s.

As Indonesia chases its first SEA Games gold medal since the 1991 edition in Manila, the PSSI plans to give the players more chances to show their worth.

“We’ll try to set up tryouts for the U-23s with Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand,” PSSI secretary general Nugraha Besoes said. “We want to hold home and away matches with them, but that has yet to be decided.”

He said the PSSI had prepared a Rp 33.6 billion ($3.36 million) budget for the national team.

“The PSSI has a regular budget about Rp 50 billion to Rp 56 billion every year,” Nugraha said. “This year, 60 percent of the budget will be used for the national team, and the senior team will get first priority.”


Indonesia Under-23 Squad

M Ridwan (Persita U-21), Yudi Choirudin (Pro Duta), Ruben Karel Sanadi (PSMS), Joko Sidik (Bontang FC), Egi Melgiansyah (Pelita Jaya), Nasution Karuraba (Persisam), Dendy Santoso (Arema Malang), Kalasut (Persi Tembilang Riau), Andika Yudistira Lubis (PSMS Makasar), Windu Anggoro (Jakarta), Engel Bert Sanii (Persiram), Frengki Irawan (PSM Makasar), Rachmat Latief (Persiram), Djayusman (PSM Makasar), Elvis Nelson Anes (Jakarta), M Fauzan Djamal (Semen Padang), Lucky Wahyu (Persebaya), Corneles Sergius Gedy (Persiba Balikpapan), Tony Sucipto (Sriwijaya FC), Johan Juansyah (Persijap Jepara), Yongky Aribowo (Persik Kediri), Jajang Mulyana (Pelita Jaya), Sultan Samma (Persiba), Titus Bonai (Persiram), Rendi Siregar (Persikota Tangerang)

Antara, JG