1976 Olympic Qualification: Competition around Indonesia, Tears Broke due to North Korea

The Indonesian National Team's best achievement in the Olympic Qualifications was in 1976. The positive results were thanks to a tour around the country.

KOMPAS/JB SURATNO

The starting eleven for Indonesia that appeared in the opening match of the 1976 Olympic Qualifiers against Singapore, on Sunday (15/2/1976), at the Senayan Main Stadium in Jakarta. The match ended in a 0-0 draw.

Since the Indonesian nation became independent, the All-Indonesian Football Association or PSSI once sent a squad to appear at the Olympics, specifically in Melbourne (Australia) 1956. Two decades later, Indonesia is also in sight. repeat participation in the most prestigious sporting event in the world.

Indonesia only needed one win in the final match of the 1976 Montreal (Canada) Pre-Olympic round against North Korea at the Senayan Utama Stadium, 26 February 1976.

Unfortunately, luck did not overshadow Indonesia because they lost 4-5 on penalties after playing a goalless draw for 120 minutes. Until now, the achievements of Wiel Coerver's children (1924-2011) are considered to be Indonesia's best "achievement" in the Olympic Qualification event.

The achievement of 48-year-old Raihan can only be surpassed if the Indonesian U-23 Team can fulfill their goal towards the Paris 2024 Olympics. This journey will begin for Marselino Ferdinan and his colleagues when they compete in the 2024 U-23 Asia Cup against the host, Qatar, on Monday (15/4/2024), at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium.

The almost successful journey to Montreal in 1956 was achieved through the hard work of all the players and the main coaching team consisting of three people, Head Coach Wiel Coerver and two assistant coaches, Wim Hendriks and Ilyas Haddade.

Also read: Arriving in Qatar, Indonesia is ready to compete for tickets to the Paris Olympics

KOMPAS/SUMOHADI MARSIS

Indonesian coach for the 1976 Pre-Olympics, Wiel Coerver, is discussing with the National Team Body of PSSI TD Pardede (second from left) during the training camp of the Indonesian National Team in November 1975 in Boyolali, Central Java. Coerver was accompanied by two assistants, Ilyas Haddade and Wim Hendriks (to the right of Coerver).

Coerver, who was contracted by the former Chairman of PSSI Bardosono, was not just any coach. He arrived in Indonesia after winning a double title for Feyenoord in the 1973-1974 season, namely the Dutch League and the UEFA Cup (Europa League). After Rinus Michels and Johan Cruyff, Coerver is considered a football master in the Netherlands. He also earned the nickname "Albert Einstein of football" in his home country.

After discussing with Bardasono, Coerver chose 42 players to begin the pre-Olympic training center at the PSSI Education and Training Center in Salatiga, Central Java. Training began on November 18, 1975, almost three months before Indonesia played their first match in the Olympic Qualifiers against Singapore on February 15, 1976.

Coerver combines intensive and hard training that prioritizes physical improvement with trial matches to strengthen tactical understanding in his team. According to the Kompas Archives, Ronny Pasla and his friends underwent 30 test matches in 14 cities, 8 provinces and 3 islands in Indonesia.

Referring to the 20 November 1975 edition of Kompas, in an interview with the media, Coerver said that Indonesian players needed to be sharpened, especially in the back line. Indonesian defenders, said Coerver, lacked the ability to guard opposing players and made inappropriate decisions. That underlies Coerver to provide a lot of competition experience for his squad.

The trial match began three days after the training session, specifically on November 21, 1975. Indonesia was challenged by PSIK Kendal at Kebondalem Field, Kendal, Central Java. A day later, the National Team defeated Persipura Jayapura 6-2, also in Kendal.

Coerver doesn't always unite his players. Sometimes, he divides his squad into two teams to play exhibition matches on the same day. This was first done on November 25, 1975. At that time, two teams, each called PSSI A and PSSI B, both competed in Surakarta and Yogyakarta.

PSSI A achieved a decisive 5-0 victory over Persis Solo at Sriwedari Stadium in Surakarta. Meanwhile, PSSI B defeated PSIM Yogyakarta 2-1 at Kridosono Stadium. After visiting the two different cities, both teams reunited in Klaten, Central Java.

PSSI A and PSSI B also held an open internal match at Trikoyo Stadium, Klaten, on November 26, 1975. As many as 11,000 people crowded the stadium. However, to watch the internal match, the public was required to purchase tickets priced between Rp 100 to Rp 150.

Also read: Indonesia Reaps Valuable Capital to Welcome the U-23 Asian Cup

KOMPAS/SUMOHADI MARSIS

The Indonesian National Team squad trained at Boyolali Stadium, Central Java, in November 1975. Coach Wiel Coerver (not wearing a shirt) appeared to be coaching PSSI players who were being prepared for the 1976 Pre-Olympics.

After undergoing nine trial matches in various cities in Central Java until early December, Coerver announced 27 player names who will continue to train for the 1976 Olympic Qualification on December 14, 1975.

The announcement of the players' names was made a few moments before the start of the match between Indonesia and the Austrian team, Voest Linz, at Senayan Main Stadium. The match was won by Voest, who came to Indonesia with the title of champion of the Austrian League, 1-0.

Afterwards, the Indonesian squad headed to Surabaya, East Java. They played three friendly matches that ended in a draw at the 10 November Stadium, Surabaya, on November 19-21, 1975. The results of the matches were a 1-1 draw against Persebaya, followed by scoreless draws (0-0) against Voest (Austria) and Asyabaab.

Sulawesi Tour

From Surabaya, the Indonesian squad flew to Makassar, South Sulawesi. After playing three matches, twice against PSM Makassar and once against Persigowa Gowa, from December 23-27, 1975 at Mattoangin Stadium, Makassar, Coerver brought his team to Palu, Central Sulawesi, to play two matches against Persipal Palu at Nokilalaki Stadium, Palu, from December 28-30, 1975.

Also read: Shin Tae-yong and PSSI's Unrealistic Targets

KOMPAS/IGNATIUS SUNITO

Indonesian coach Wiel Coerver observed his squad during one of the 1976 Olympic Qualifying matches at Senayan Main Stadium in Jakarta in February 1976.

Entering the new year, January 1976, Coerver again divided his team into two. One competed in Watampone, South Sulawesi, while the other played in Kolaka, Southeast Sulawesi.

The tour in Sulawesi ended after Indonesia played a 0-0 draw against Persigowa at Kalegowa Field, Gowa, South Sulawesi, on January 6, 1976. From Sulawesi, Coerver's protégés won 8 matches, drew 3 times, and lost 2 times.

Ronny Pattinasarany, a former national player, also gave his assessment of the results of the national team's visit to Sulawesi. "PSSI's (team) game is not good enough so it cannot be used as a measure of true strength," said Ronny in his written opinion to Kompaswhich was published in the January 13, 1976 edition.

After Sulawesi, the national team played two exhibition matches against the Swiss team, Grasshopper, in Jakarta. The results were 3-3 and 0-1. In the final preparations, the team led by captain Iswadi Idris underwent intensive training in Bangka (formerly part of South Sumatra). Two final test matches were held at the Kota Sungai Liat Field, Bangka, on January 27-28, 1976, with a final score of 2-0 against PS Bangka and 1-0 against PN Timah.

Also read: The Road to the Paris Olympics is Open

KOMPAS/JB SURATNO

Risdianto, an Indonesian striker, was embraced by Montandon, a Grasshopper (Swiss team) defender, during a friendly match at the Senayan Main Stadium in Jakarta on January 20, 1976. The Indonesian squad for the 1976 Pre-Olympics lost 0-1.

On January 29, 1976, Coerver announced the final 20-member squad for the 1976 Montreal Pre-Olympics. Risdianto, Indonesia's center forward in the 1976 Olympic Qualifiers, has an impression of the series of super-packed trial matches.

”I feel it is a program from the coach (Coerver) who wants to mature our playing patterns, apart from heavy training to improve our physique and endurance. "This program shaped our condition when we appeared in the real tournament," said Risdianto when remembering that historic moment in a conversation, Saturday (13/4/2024).

Risdianto revealed that each player only follows Coerver's instructions to move from one city to another. The players, he continued, only focus on trying to show their best game wherever they perform.

Also read: "Young Garuda" Threatened Without Full Strength

KOMPAS/TH A BUDI SUSILO

Midfielder and captain of the Indonesian National Team, Iswadi Idris, led the 1976 Olympic Qualifying team when they were welcomed and cheered by the Bangka community during a trial match against PS Bangka and PN Timah on Wednesday and Thursday (28-29/1/1976).

”When I was in Sulawesi, I played at Bone (Watampone). So I don't know if other colleagues are also competing in other places. We were accompanied by Mr. Ilyas, another team with Coach Hendriks, they will report to Coerver. "Coerver also monitors the team wherever he wishes," said Risdianto.

Tactical

During the Pre-Olympics in 1976, Indonesia drew 0-0 with Singapore and then went on a rampage by defeating Papua New Guinea 8-2 thanks to four goals from Junaedi Abdillah. Although they lost 1-2 to North Korea, Indonesia defeated arch-rival Malaysia 2-1, thanks to the winning goal from Risdianto.

This program shapes our conditions when appearing in real tournaments.

KOMPAS/KARTONO RYADI

Indonesian striker, Risdianto (second from the right), clenched his fist in the air as he celebrated scoring a goal against Malaysia in the Pre-Olympic match in 1976, on February 24, 1976, at the Senayan Main Stadium in Jakarta. Indonesia led 2-1 and qualified for the final round.

The result of defeating Malaysia determined Indonesia's entry to the final to face North Korea, who had won all four matches. Indonesia's peak performance was seen in the final match when they managed to hold North Korea to a draw with no goals. In that decisive match, Indonesia proved the richness of tactics produced by the skillful hands of Coerver.

This was realized through a change in formation in the final match. After playing with the main formation of 4-3-3 in four preliminary games, Coerver switched to a 4-4-2 formation in the final match. The 4-4-2 formation was quite unfamiliar in Indonesia at that time, as no Indonesian teams used that formation in national competitions.

The significant change is shown by the presence of two central attackers, namely Risdianto and Waskito. Before the match against North Korea, Risdianto and Waskito had often played together, but they were never paired up as the spearhead.

”I was originally Waskito's backup in the national team, but when Waskito was injured in 1972, I took the center forward position. When Waskito recovered, I was already in that position, so Waskito moved to the right wing. "We also played for the East Java Team in the 1969 PON, at that time Waskito was in the middle, while I was on the outside left," said Risdianto, who scored two goals in the 1976 Olympic Qualification.

KOMPAS/KARTONO RYADI

Indonesia's goalkeeper, Ronny Pasia, denied the penalty kick of North Korean player, Pak Jong-hun, in the final match of the Pre-Olympics 1976 on February 26, 1976, at the Senayan Main Stadium in Jakarta. Unfortunately, Indonesia still could not defeat North Korea in the penalty shootout.

Only "the goddess of luck" separated Indonesia from a ticket to Montreal 1976. Indonesia had a great chance of qualifying for the Olympics after North Korean fifth executor, Kim Jong-min, failed to conquer Ronny Pasla, but Anjas Asmara, Indonesian winger, also couldn't perform his duties well.

Indonesia's dream of going to the Olympics for the second time was dashed in the seventh kicker. Suaeb Rizal's kick, midfielder, deviated from the goal. Indonesia also fell 4-5 in the high-five drama.

Indonesian players and supporters were saddened. Junaedi, for example, couldn't hold back his tears on the field. After almost taking Indonesia to the Olympic final round, Coerver and Hendriks decided to return to the Netherlands and end their contract with the PSSI per May 1976. Meanwhile, Korut advanced to the quarter-finals in Montreal 1976.

KOMPAS/KARTONO RYADI

Indonesian attacking midfielder, Junaedi Abdillah, cried in tears after Indonesia suffered a penalty shootout defeat of 4-5 against North Korea in the final of the Pre-Olympic 1976 held on February 26, 1976 at Senayan Main Stadium, Jakarta. Junaedi was embraced by Assistant Coach Ilyas Haddade.

Indonesia came so close to appearing in the 1976 Olympics. If they had been able to compete in Montreal, perhaps the fate of Indonesian football would be different compared to the current situation.