Wimbo Satwiko

Coach Calls Defender Back to Indonesian U-23 Football Squad

With time running out, Benny Dollo made a much-needed addition to his defense.

Rahmat Latief left the Indonesian Under-23 national team training camp in Palembang and joined the senior side on Thursday, just one day before it departed for Kuwait.

“I was called by coach Benny Dollo on Wednesday night,” Rahmat said. “He asked me to go to Jakarta, he wanted me to join the team for the 2011 Asian Cup qualifier against Kuwait.”

Indonesia plays at Kuwait on Nov. 14 before hosting the return match on Nov. 18.

Though Rahmat was originally called up for the Southeast Asian Games training camp, he is no stranger to the senior set-up. The Persiram Raja Ampat defender was part of the call-ups for the national team training camp in January ahead of matches against Oman and Australia.

Rahmat’s name has been on Benny’s list since an October training camp. And, after allowing three set-piece goals in a 3-1 defeat at Singapore in Wednesday’s friendly, the coach made public his wish to call up Rahmat to the senior side.

“We have big problem anticipating set pieces, and we have to sort it out,” Benny said. “The problem is I only have three central defenders. That’s why I need Rahmat.”

Benny currently has captain Charis Yulianto, Maman Abdurahman and Nova Arianto as central defenders on his roster.

Despite not having much time to adjust, Rahmat said he didn’t anticipate any problems adapting to the team.

“I don’t think I will have a problem adjusting and creating teamwork with the boys,” he said. “I joined the team at January’s training camp, when we were preparing for the Oman and Australia matches. I’m confident it will work out.”

The team left Jakarta for Kuwait on Friday night. It is scheduled to play friendly match against a local team on Tuesday.

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