SEA GAMES 2011: RAHMAD TO IRON OUT ISSUES BEFORE PLAYING THAILAND

JAKARTA (12 Nov 2011) – The team might have scored a total of eight goals in the last two matches and while Indonesian chief coach Rahmad Darmawan might have been satisfied with the outcome, there is still some underlying anxiety for the man charged with delivering Indonesia’s first gold medal since 1991.

Pressed by the members of the media last night after what they felt as a team lacking in motivation after going in front, Rahmad admitted that there is definitely an issue there which should be ironed out before the matches against Thailand and then Malaysia.

“I don’t know if you can call it over-confidence but there is definitely an issue there. I had already warned them against complacency after their win in the first game (a 6-0 thrashing of Cambodia) and against Singapore they started strongly again to score the early goal and then 2-0 at the break,” said Rahmad.

But somehow, they tapered off in the second half even though we had the numerical advantage. Don’t get me wrong, the players have been playing well but I would rather that they play well throughout.

“And not fizzle off when they are on the up as that will allow our opponents to come back which Singapore and Cambodia almost did.”

Rahmad said that it is important that the players keep their head intact and not be over-confident.

He warned that the lessons from the AFF Suzuki Cup last year when they lost the final to Malaysia were that everyone was in a state of euphoria and over-confident. They totally forgot about the game.

“I don’t want this ‘feeling’ of over-confidence to creep in. It was generally a good performance from the players in the first two matches and we should build from here,” added Rahmad.

“Now it is important that the players make full use of this one day to recover for the game against Thailand. It was too hot in the game against Singapore and we certainly will need all the rest we can get.”

SEA GAMES 2011 RESULTS and FIXTURES

GROUP A