Riedl's return a new riddle for Indonesia
Reuters - Tuesday 10 April 2012, 10:29
Just when things looked as if they
could not possibly become more confusing in Indonesian football,
Alfred Riedl has returned to take over as coach of the national
team after being appointed by the country's 'shadow' FA.
The Austrian was fired last July in a shake-up by the new
leaders of the Indonesia FA (PSSI) but he has been given his job
back by Indonesia Soccer Rescue Committee (KPSI).
The breakaway KPSI says it runs Indonesian football over the
PSSI as the sport has imploded with its failure to solve a
bitter row over a breakaway league.
"[Riedl] has agreed to coach our national team and we have
given him a target to win the AFF Suzuki Cup in December," the
FA's KPSI-elected chairman La Nyalla Mattalitti told the Jakarta
Globe.
"He will start working immediately to select all best
players in the country, from the ISL [Indonesian Super League]
and IPL [Indonesian Premier League]."
Riedl's sacking triggered a furious response from Indonesia
fans after the Austrian led them to the 2010 AFF Cup final,
before the PSSI initially refused to pay out his contract.
The PSSI has until June 15 to get its house in order or
suffer FIFA sanctions as a row over the breakaway rebel league
rages on amid government threats to take over.
Riedl, 62, has had spells in charge of Vietnam, Laos,
Palestine, Liechtenstein and his native Austria in a lengthy
coaching career.