INDONESIA FA SEEKS REPLACEMENT

Withe was released by the Indonesia FA (PSSI) as their national coach following the team’s failure at the recent Asean Football Championship when they finished the group stage of the meet behind Singapore and Vietnam.

Following their 2-2 draw in the final group match against host Singapore, the finalists in 2004 was dumped out of the competition on lesser goal difference.

“The failure of the national team to make the semi-finals of the Asean Football Championship has caused a deep sense of sadness not only for me but also to the whole of the Indonesian football-loving populace,” said Indonesia FA president Nurdin Halid to the association’s official website.

“There will be replacement to Peter Withe. Apart from that, there will also be an evaluation done to the whole team as even though we have spent a substantial amount of money, the performance was below expectation.”

However Benny when approached has stated that he has no interest in the position at this time.

Other candidates who have been identified are Singapore’s Fandi Ahmad, who is currently with team Pelita Jaya and former coach Ivan Kolev, who said: “if they approach me, I’m more than willing to resume my old post.”

Then there’s also Rachmad Darmawan (currently with Sriwijaya Palembang) and Daniel Rukito (with Persik Kediri) as among the list of possible candidates to replace Withe – rumoured to be paid around USD 13,000 a month.