World Soccer and Us

As happened in any other places in the world, we have also World Cup fever here. For a month Indonesia's newspaper, television, facebook, daily talks are dominated by world cup event. Impromptu soccer experts derived from politicians, lawmakers, artists are rampant in every television program. They gave analysis vehemently as if they are Franz Beckenbauer or Carlos Bilardo. And the cafes are full with people watching the game jointly. In short, our citizenry love soccer very much.

Unfortunately until now all we can do is watching the game and giving nonsense comments about the game. The performance of our national team is very bad so the fledging team such as Laos can beat us. Even if we love soccer, we cannot manage every aspect of soccer. Many players seem to be a gifted fighter instead of soccer player. Indonesia's soccer referee is not the most powerful man in the field commanding the game as we see in South Africa. The referee here can be beaten if you are not satisfied with his decision. The police cannot control hooligans fouled the public properties. Worse yet, there is no sign of soccer resurrection. (However resurrection is not the correct word of our national soccer, because until now we have no significant achievement even in Asia tournament). The national soccer association, PSSI, is still in doubt in terms of capacity to bring us any achievement.

Let us find the solution or the cause.

As far as potential players are concerned, there is no reason that we have no such good kids to be great player. We can get the talents all across archipelago. An ounce Singapore's population can select 11 players, let alone the 4th populous country in the world. If we have had the players and then we need a good system to forge the local talents. The question arises whether our national team players reflect the meritocracy of players. Are the kids of natural talent and physical fitness from remote areas in Maluku or Papua have a chance to show their skills and be intensively trained in school of soccer?

Our soccer competition has been held regularly. It is good for every player to hone their skill. We also invite the 2nd or 3 rd level of players from Brazil, Argentina or Africa to join the league. While the 1st level of theirs go to Europe. However, to Indonesia regular league with harsh competition don't have significant correlation with our national soccer team performance. Compared to Singapore, their teams have the same of skills or even better than us. So our busy league has failed to transform the players to be international player.

Now speaking about the coach. Let me tell you something that we have a big problem in the player's basic skill. Imagine that world class-coach Jose Mourinho manages our national team. What will happen? Absolutely, Mourinho might have failed in the beginning of his stint. Why? it's because our players has not passed the basic skill need including dribbling, passing, kicking the ball to the right place and right time. While the coaches in storied nations grapple with the strategy to put the right man in the right place and how to play using the width of field, etc. So you can't have a strategy unless you have many skilful players.

In a nutshell, in order to have dignity in soccer: first find the talented kids, second hone their skills as if they are the friend of the ball and they can do anything with the ball, and the last invite the best strategy coach to create team character and identity like Johan Cruyff create Barcelona as attacking team.