BENNY CALLS UP NEW FACES FOR QUALIFIERS

Out of the 27 players called for centralised training in Sawangan in West Java, only two players from the recently concluded AFF Suzuki Cup 2008 were dropped.

The two are Usep Munandar and Fandy Mochtar while Benny has deemed it fit to recall defenders Ricardo Salampessy and Maman Abdurahman.

“We need the experience of Maman and Ricardo for the Asian Cup qualifiers,” said Benny of the two players who had played such crucial roles in the Asian Cup 2007.

Apart from the two old hands, Benny has also called on young players to give more pace to their last line of defence with the inclusion of PSM Makassar dual stoppers Djayusman Triadi and Rachmat Latif.

The two gave outstanding performances with the Indonesia Under-21 squad in the recent Independence Cup with Benny celarly impressed.

In midfield, Benny has called on players like Pieter Rumaropen, Hariono and Boaz Solossa with the latter to fill in the position as a left winger.

Pieter will be utilised more as an attacking midfielder with Firman Utina.

For the Asian Cup 2011 qualifiers, Indonesia are in Group B against Australia, Oman and Kuwait with their first game being away to Oman on 19 January 2009.

“We are planning to leave for Oman early so that the players can get better suited for the cold conditions there,” added Benny.

The Indonesian national team will leave for Oman on 12 January where they have also planned to play one friendly against local clubs before their first game of the qualifiers.

INDONESIA TRAINING SQUAD

GOALKEEPERS: Markus Harison, Fery Rotinsulu, Dian Agus Prasetyo

DEFENDERS:Ismed Sofyan, Ricardo Salampessy, Nova Arianto, Maman Abdurahman, M Robby, CharisYulianto, Rahmat Latif, Djayusman, Isnan Ali, Erol Iba

MIDFIELDERS: Arif Suyono, Ellie Aiboy, Irsyad Aras, Ponaryo Astaman, Hariono, Syamsul Chaerudin, Firman Utina, Pieter Rumaropen, M Ilham, Boaz Solossa

STRIKERS:Bambang Pamungkas, Budi Sudarsono, TA Mushafry, Aliyudin