 |
| Stefano Lilipaly has broken new ground for Indonesian players after scoring a goal for Dutch club FC Utrecht. (Agency Photo) |
Related
articles
- Rahmad Makes Losing Start With Pelita Jaya
- Rahmad Signs on With Super League’s Pelita Jaya
- Rebels Offer Olive Branch to PSSI After FIFA, AFC Step in
- FIFA Cracks the Whip on PSSI’s Leadership Woes
- High-Flying Sriwijaya Sets the Standard in ISL: Commentary
Amid a
wealth of off-field missteps and political bickering, Stefano Lilipaly provided
a bit of good news for Indonesian football on Sunday.
The
22-year-old midfielder scored in the 66th minute of his debut for FC Utrecht in
the Dutch top flight, becoming the first Indonesian to find the net in the
Eredivisie.
Utrecht
drew 1-1 with visiting PSV Eindhoven after Ola Toivonen equalized in the 71st
minute.
“It was a
very pleasant moment,” Stefano, who was also named man of the match, told
Utrecht’s official Web site. “I spent 10 years in the youth team. This is my
time to prove I can handle [the pressure of playing in the top flight].”
He played
for the Netherlands’ Under-15 and Under-18 national teams, but he looked to his
roots when the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) put out a call for
talented youngsters of Indonesian heritage playing in Europe.
Stefano,
whose father is Indonesian, was granted citizenship on Oct. 11, 2011, alongside
fellow Dutch-born Jhonny Van Beukering and Tony Cussel and Nigeria-born Greg
Nwokolo and Victor Igbonefo.
He was
called up for Indonesia’s Under-23 tryouts to play in last year’s Southeast
Asian Games, but he was cut by then-coach Rahmad Darmawan.
Utrecht
coach Jan Wouters praised the young midfielder for his development.
“Lilipaly
has developed very well, grown through the youth team and has shown his quality
to us in this game,” he said.
However,
Aji Santoso, Indonesia’s new senior and U-23 head coach, said he did not want
to rush in calling up Stefano for the national team’s next match – the final
2014 World Cup qualifier at Bahrain on Feb. 29.
Indonesia
is last in Group E with no wins and 16 goals conceded from five matches. Its
last chance to reach the next round passed with a 4-1 home loss to Iran in
November.
“The
Bahrain game will be our last match in the group and the results won’t decide
anything. I prefer to call Stefano up for future events, such as the Suzuki Cup
and the 2013 SEA Games,” Aji told the Jakarta Globe on Monday.
Stefano is
one of a small but growing group of Indonesians playing in Europe. Yericho
Christiantoko, Alfin Tuasalamony, Yandi Munawar and Syamsir Alam play in the
Belgian second division with CS Vise, which is owned by the Bakrie family,
while Arthur Irawan is trying his luck in Spain after signing with Espanyol’s
U-19 team last year.
If those
youngsters kept improving and played regularly, Aji said, they would help
provide a brighter future for the national team. With world governing body FIFA
prohibiting the PSSI from calling up players competing in the breakaway
Indonesian Super League, the 41-year-old coach needs every option he can find.
“I would
love to see them playing in my team. I don’t think it will happen when we play
against Bahrain, but it will be in the near future,” he said.
 |
Indonesian
midfielder Stefano Lilipaly has spoken about
scoring his first goal for Utrecht
in their 1-1 draw against
Dutch giants PSV.
|
Related Article:
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.