Selandia Baru Ingin Gabung Konfederasi Sepak bola Asia

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REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, WELLINGTON -- Pelatih Selandia Baru Ricki Herbert mengusulkan agar tim berjuluk "All Whites" itu bergabung dengan Konfederasi Sepak Bola Asia (AFC) karena rendahnya kualitas lawan di Oceania.

Pernyataan tersebut disampaikan Herbert setelah Selandia Baru secara keseluruhan menyerah telak 3-9 dari Meksiko di pertandingan kedua babak playoff menghadapi Meksiko, wakil dari Zona CONCACAF (Amerika Utara, Tengah dan Karibia).

Menurut Herbert, Selandia Baru harus mengikuti langkah Australia yang bergabung dengan Asia sejak 2006, setelah sebelumnya juga berkompetisi di Zona Oceania. Alasan yang dikemukakan Australia ketika juga karena tidak adanya lawan yang seimbang di Zona Oceania yang beranggotakan negara-negara kecil di Samudera Pasifik.

Herbert menyatakan para pemain "All Whites" membutuhkan lawan tangguh jika ingin mengembahkan diri dan mencapai putaran final Piala Dunia. "Kita memang terhalang oleh masalah geografi," katanya, Rabu (20/11).

"Jika Selandia Baru mengikuti sepuluh pertandingan internasional berkualitas, maka mereka bisa akan mendapat tantangan.Selandia Baru membutuhkan tantangan, para pemain membutuhkan tantangan," kata Herbert menambahkan.

Herbert mengatakan, tim muda Australia juga sempat menemui kesulitan saat masa transisi setelah bergabung dengan Asia, tapi secara jangka panjang mereka kemudian bisa mengembangkan diri. Oceania adalah yang paling lemah dari enam konfederasi dibawah FIFA, sehingga mereka tidak mempunyai jatah secara otomatis untuk lolos ke putaran final Piala Dunia 2014.

Selandia Baru sebagai juara Zona Oceania harus berhadapan dengan peringkat keempat Zona CONCACAF (Amerika Utara, Tengah dan Karibia), yaitu Meksiko dalam laga playoff. Zona Asia mendapat empat jatah langsung ke Piala Dunia, sementara peringkat kelima mendapat peluang untuk lolos setelah menghadapi babak playoff menghadapi wakil dari Amerika Selatan.

Lemahnya negara peserta di Oceania membuat persaingan yang sangat tidak seimbang dan salah satu contoh adalah ketika Australia membantai Samoa Amerika dengan skor 31-0 pada 2001 dan tercatat sebagai salah rekor tertinggi dalam pertandingan internasional.

Meski gagal total di penyisihan Piala Dunia 2014, Herbert pernah mengantar Selandia Baru meraih prestasi terbaik sepanjang sejarah negara itu, yaitu ketika tidak terkalahkan dalam pertandingan penyisihan grup Piala Dunia 2010 di Afrika Selatan, salah satunya menahan imbang juara bertahan Italia 1-1.

http://www.republika.co.id/berita/sepakbola/internasional-2/13/11/20/mwkkkt-selandia-baru-ingin-gabung-konfederasi-sepak-bola-asia

Redaktur : Citra Listya Rini

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To qualify World Cup U-20, U-19 must overcome their mental block

Photo : Yasin Habibi/Republika

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesia's U-19 National Team squad is expected to meet the target to qualify for the U-20 World Cup title in U-19 Asia Cup in Myanmar.

But to qualify the game, Evan Dimas and his friends should be able to overcome the mental problems, especially those paralyzes that caused mental block for Indonesian players.

Mental coach of U-19 Guntur Cahyo Utomo said, one of the mental obstacles that often approached players are anxious, nervous, and worrisome feeling that they cannot play their best. This could be corrected in the training concentration of U-19 in Malang.

The mental training process, said Guntur, cannot be done in just three months or four months. In addition to training in Malang, quantity of international test match could also be done to remove the mental problem.

Technically, the mental training process will be carried out gradually. Short terms programs will continue to be evaluated every two months to three months. Continuation of the program will be decided based on the development of mental condition of the player. The form, he said, can be a special assistance to each individual player.

"Because of that, the process of training camp lasted for one year. In order to complete preparations and the players will be only focused to think about football, they should not distracted by other things," He toldRepublika on Friday (15/11).

But more importantly, the understanding to see own self potential must also be implanted. "When we are stuck with an opponent's abilities and how to solve it, it made us neglectful to pay attention to our potential and ability," Guntur added.

He said, although U-19 national team will play away in the AFC U-19, but it will not be a problem, especially on mental problem.

"There is no mental burden, but the process of adaptation will take place. Yet, the game will be played by 11 players against 11 and in the same field," he said.

Asked about the target of U-19, Guntur admitted, if the squad could qualify for the FIFA U-20, it would be a pretty proud accomplishment for the national team. However, this kind of achievement has never been achieved by Indonesian national team in any age level.

Ed: Heri Ruslan

http://www.republika.co.id/berita/en/national-politics/13/11/16/mwcjtd-to-qualify-world-cup-u20-u19-must-overcome-their-mental-block

Reporter : Reja Irfa Widodo

Redaktur : Julkifli Marbun