Soetjipto Soentoro


Soetjipto Soentoro was an Indonesian footballer who captained Indonesia's national team. He also had a career as a manager.

Biography

Born in Bandung, Jawa Barat, he was raised in Soentoro Djajasapoetra's family, who were football enthusiasts. His brothers were Soegijo and Soegito, who played for Persija Jakarta between 1952 and 1964. Soetjipto played football as a teenager in the streets in the area of Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta in 1954. He came to public attention when playing for Setia Jakarta. Junior national team coach, Djamiat Dalhar, realising the potential of Soetjipto, selected him for the national junior team. Soetjipto became more well known after being selected for the national senior team under head coach Antun Pogačnik.

Club career

1964 season

When he was 16 years old, Soentoro joined Persija. People started to call him "Gareng" because of his height of about 169 cm,.
Soentoro scored four goals in his debut at Persija in a 7–0 win of PSP. He also scored a goal against PSB Bogor.
Persija beat the team from Ambon, PSA 4–0. In those years, PSA had the star player in the Indonesia national team, Jacob Sihasale.
On 25 July 1964, Persija faced PSM Makassar. Although PSM scored against Persija, Soentoro scored an equalising goal.
In the match against PSMS, he scored four goals. Persija reached the final after a win against Persib 3–1 in which he scored a hat trick.
Soentoro was successful and his club became champions of Perserikatan 1964 after the final win against Persebaya with a score of 4–1, played at Gelora Senayan Stadium. Persebaya at the time was a prominent team in Indonesia, in addition to having Andjek AN and Junaedi Abdillah. Soentoro made Persija an unbeatable team in one season. He became a top scorer of Perserikatan with 16 goals. After that, he became a phenomenal player in Asia.

1965 season

At the National Tournament of PSSI in 1965, Persija failed to defend their title, losing in the semi-final. At the group stage of the West Zone, Persija were placed third. Soentoro scored 2 goals. On 11 August 1965, he scored one goal against Persebaya in the first leg, but later lost in the second leg 4–2, with the aggregate score 4–3 for Persebaya.

1966 season

In the 1966 season, Persija did not play as well in the National Tournament of PSSI. In the Group stage of West Zone, Persija only ranked fourth in the final standings. He scored three goals from his five appearances. Soetjipto scored when his team played against Persib, PSP, and PSB.

1967 season

The 1967 season was lucky for Persija. Their rank had increased at three at West Zone. Persija joined with PSDS, PSMS, Persib, PSB, and PSIM. He scored five goals from his five appearances. His goals were made during games against PSDS Deli Serdang, PSIM, Persib, and PSMS.

1971 season

At the National Tournament of PSSI in 1971, at West Zone, Persija joined with PSMS, Persebaya, and PSM Ujung Pandang. This year the PSM Makassar team's name was changed to PSM Ujung Pandang and Ujung Pandang city start to changed into Makassar city. Soetjipto scored 2 goals at each of his three appearances. From 1967 until 1971, PSMS became the dream team in Indonesia after they became the champion of National Tournament of PSSI 3 times. The lucky was that time, PSMS have too many Indonesia national team stars players there are Sarman Panggabean, Ipong Silalahi, Yuswardi. They also had youth player which they also played at Indonesia national team liked Ronny Paslah, Nobon Kyamudin, Parlian Siagian, and India Tumsila. After PSMS became the champion at 1969, they participated in 1970 Asian Champion Club Tournament. They went into the semi-final before being stopped by the champions of Iran League Taj Club and finally became the champion. At the third place match PSMS must lose against football club from Syria, Homenetmen.

National team career

Asian Cup Junior 1959

In the age of 16 years has strengthened Persija to Europe and join Pelatnas PSSI Junior for the Junior Asia Cup 1959.
In the Junior Asia Cup, Soetjipto Soentoro was the top scorer with 14 goals. He scored when the Indonesian national team beat Taiwan 14–0 and Japan 13–1. Indonesia finished in third place after losing to Burma in the semi-finals. Action in the Junior Asia Cup player led to his promotion to the senior team.

PSSI tour to Europe

In 1965, the PSSI trip to Europe. The national team were managed by Maulwi Saelan. They played against two powerful European clubs, Feyenoord, the Netherlands and SV Werder Bremen, Germany.
Bung Karno's motivation was given to Gareng before went to Europe was really planted in Gareng's heart. "You, Gareng opposed to the Dutch. Point out that Indonesia was the big nation." Bung Karno said.
9 June 1965, Soetjipto Soentoro believed to be the captain of PSSI faced the Champion of Main Division League, Netherland which was captained by Guus Hiddink.
The Gareng was played crazy. After passing through the three defenders of Feyenoord in the second minute of the first half he scored that last until the first half ended. Although the score ended 1–6 to win Feyenord was no more due to the referee and political factors.
14 June 1965, on second tour in West Germany against Bundesliga champion Werder Bremen, the Gareng and his friends made a surprise. The game was dramatic, created a lot of goals and full of fighting spirit. Its goals generated at minutes 30, 41, and 58 and at the same time he scored a hat trick in the game. Although Indonesia was lost 5–6, Werder Bremen coach which he also became the West Germany national team, Gunther Brocker openly was praised and offered Soetjipto and Max Timisela to play for Werder Bremen.
However, the offer was rejected by Gatot Suwago Colonel. He said "They would loved to play for their nation." The other reason that Soetjipto and friends were preparing for the Asian Games 1966.

1966 Asian Games

Soetjipto made his début in international competition at the 1966 Asian Games in Tokyo. That year, Indonesia were drawn against Singapore, South Vietnam, and Republic of China in Group C. Indonesia just 2 times won and draw 1 times. He just made two goal against Republic of China and Singapore. Finally Indonesia went to quarter final. Indonesia join with Iran and Burma. But he and friend must stopped in here after draw against Iran 2–2 and lost against Burma 1–3.

Agha Khan Gold Cup 1966

In this tournament, Indonesia entered their junior and senior team. He scored when Indonesia defeated Pakistan Railways, Karachi Port Trust, and Iran XI. Indonesia became champions after winning 2–1 against Mohammedan SC in the final. Indonesian goals at that time was made by Soentoro and Aliandoe.

1968 Merdeka tournament

Soetjipto performed brilliantly with the national team when the team appeared in the 1968 Merdeka Tournament in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In the tournament he managed to make the national team won the games. But the only team to struggle in the semi-finals. And finally the national team was ranked only fourth after losing the race for the third party from Australia with a score of 1–0. At that time, he scored 4 goals and also made his hat trick when the national team in the first game won a landslide victory over the Japanese B with a score of 7–0. He also bought up 5 goals in the final game when it managed to shave the Republic of China with a score of 11–1 which was held on 18 August 1968 at Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur. This is the biggest loss for Taiwan in the history and for Indonesia, this is the first they had the biggest won in the history before that record can broken when Indonesia won 12–0 against Philippines.

1968 King's Cup

IN his début at Kings Cup, he had the chance to help his country became the champion for the first time in this tournament. In this tournament, Indonesia were unbeaten. In the allocation group they beat Malaysia 1–0. Indonesia joined with Singapore and Burma in Group 2. He made two goals against Burma before Indonesia added to the score with Jacob Sihasale's header. He scored in the 7–1 defeat of Singapore. In the semi-final, Indonesia beat their biggest rival, Malaysia 6–1. One of the goals was made by the captain of PSSI, Soetjipto Soentoro. In the final Indonesia beat Burma 1–0 although Burma dominated the game.

1969 Tournament Merdeka

Indonesia had not won in this tournament since 1962, and Soentoro could help his team became the champion for the third title. This time, Indonesia was in Group A with Malaysia, South Korea, Thailand. He scored the first goal in this tournament when Indonesia played South Korea. He scored the opening goal and his goal was inspiring his friend. Finally he could win 3–0. He also scored eight goal against Singapore and made final result 9–2 for Indonesia in the semi-final. In the final he scored the second goal for Indonesia before Indonesia added the score 3–2. This goal was made him became the top scorers of 1969 Merdeka Tournament.

Indonesia vs Dynamo Moscow (1970)

On 14 June 1970, the Indonesian national team incoming club from the Soviet Union, Dynamo Moscow. Dynamo Moscow when it comes to bringing the world's best goalkeeper at the time, Lev Yashin. But Indonesia were narrowly defeated by a score of 0–1. Indonesia had a chance when Soetjipto sent the ball to Iswadi Idris. However Iswadi prefer to feed Jacob Sihasale because there wasn't space to score. Unfortunately, he was not ready when receiving feedback from Iswadi.

Asian Games 1970

His début was when Indonesia could join Asian Games 1970. That time Indonesia joined in Group C with Iran and South Korea. Indonesia just placed at rank 2 in Group C after drawing against Iran 2–2 and South Korea 0–0. But the Indonesia progressed into the quarter final. In the quarter final, Indonesia joined at Group A with India and Japan. But Indonesia never won at this group. That result make Indonesia must beat Thailand at fifth place match. He scored the only goal in a 1–0 win against Thailand. That result saw Indonesia win the silver medal at the tournament.

Playing style

Soetjipto has too many skills that no one Asian player didn't have it. He had compact physics, he can did dribble keeping from the opponent, his hard shoot from the far corner although the narrow corner and also he could make the opponent angry because of his action. That's why he became the captain of PSSI for five years.

Managerial career

Soetjipto decided to retire in 1970. Having studied coaching in West Germany, Soetjipto became a coach. He coached at Buana Putra Galatama, Persiba Balikpapan and Persiraja Banda Aceh.
Soetjipto also been brought the junior national team into the U-20 World Cup in Tokyo in 1979. Indonesia junior national team failed to step into the final round of FIFA World Cup Junior Cup, at that time The Yount Garuda could only finish third in the Junior World Cup qualifiers FIFA.
While the Asia zone has only three nation tickets to the finals. One is held by Japan as the host organizers. Two other tickets held by South Korea and North Korea that successfully qualified via the final round of Asian zone qualifiers. But for political reasons North Korea withdrew from the championship and Indonesia is appointed as a substitute.
That gave the opportunity for Indonesia to fly their wings at the World Cup.
But on the way to reach the final, Indonesia had difficult task. At the group stage, Indonesia joined with Argentina, Poland, and Yugoslavia.
At the first match Bambang Nurdiansyah and friends must gave in against Maradona 6–0 in Omiya Stadium, Japan, 26 August 1979. Two goals was scored by El Pibe de Oro or nickname for Maradona.
Besides defeated 5 goals without reply from Argentina, two residents of other groups, namely Poland and Yugoslavia also had to make the Garuda bowed sluggish.
In the group stage, Young Garuda must retreated with a score of 5–0 by Poland. While Young Garuda also lost by Yugoslavia massacred half a dozen goals without reply.
Argentina with Maradona when it finally came out as champions U-20 World Cup after the grounding of the Soviet Union 3–1 in the top match.

Death

In 1990, Soetjipto suffered from liver cancer, after four years fighting against the illness, he died on 12 November 1994. He was 53 years old. He left two children, Bisma and Tantri.

Career statistics

Club

International

International goals

Persija Jakarta
Indonesia