GOAL SCORER'S VERSATILITY INSPIRATION TO MUSTANGS.

Byline: Lee Barnathan Daily News Staff Writer

Timo Scheunemann is used to not fitting in.

He was born to German Christian parents in Islamic Indonesia, where he lived for 17 of his 22 years.

The only white student, he stood out among the Javanese natives at his high school in the village of Batu. And he was tall, very tall compared to the island people.

``My personal problem is I don't know where I belong,'' The Master's College men's soccer player said. ``In my village, I'm one of them. But outside my village, I'm a tourist.''

At times, he liked the attention. Other times, he wanted to be like everyone else.

Fortunately, his family was stable, supportive and loving. He said that was how he, as the youngest of five children, gained the self-confidence needed to adapt in the world.

He has lived in three very different places, each requiring him to behave differently. Indonesian people put kindness above the truth and make sure their guests are comfortable, he said. Germans are much more harsh, putting truth above kindness. They'll tell you something bad about you to your face. Californians value pleasure above everything else, the way Scheunemann sees it.

``It makes the person I am: tolerant, understanding, open-minded,'' Scheunemann said.

It was the same way in soccer. He learned the Indonesian style of short passes. When he lived in Germany for two years, he picked up the long-ball strategy, how to pass around an opponent instead of dribbling by him and the 4-4-2 lineup (four defenders, four midfielders, two forwards).

When he came to The Master's three years ago, he was a goal scorer. He always played the entire match and usually scored at least one goal.

``I had it all along,'' he said. ``If you give me playing time, I will score. I'm an opportunist.''

He didn't receive many opportunities here.

The Master's coach Jim Rickard decided Scheunemann lacked the ball-control skills and foot speed he wanted in a forward. American soccer, as Scheunemann saw it, also involved more set plays than in Indonesia or Germany.

Scheunemann had been frustrated before, but this was the first time in soccer. So he adjusted.

``It's fine. Every coach has his own style and thinking. Coach Rickard is big on speed and dribbling ability. I was taught not to take someone on, and I'm not that quick. It got me frustrated in terms of soccer, but it's made me a better person.''

He worked hard for three seasons at improving his foot speed and ball skills. He also learned the plays.

Now the Mustangs are 11-3-1 and Scheunemann leads the team with nine goals and two assists. He has the team's only hat trick, against Pacific Christian. He beat the goalie one-on-one against Cal State Hayward and Biola. He stole the ball from a UC Santa Cruz defender and scored.

``I told Timo he's been inspiring the team,'' Rickard said.

After the season, Scheunemann will go back to Indonesia and play professionally for Ujung Pandang, one of the top teams in the league.

He expects the out-of-place feeling to return. He thinks he was bought as a marketing tool: a tall white-skinned Indonesian. When he tried out last summer, he had about 500 people watching his every move. In matches, he expects that number to swell to 30,000.

Ujung Pandang is not Batu, so he also expects to be looked at as an outsider. Although he was born there, the government doesn't recognize him as a citizen because he carries a German passport. He also can't go back to Batu because there are no job opportunities.

Ujung Pandang is a fundamentalist Muslim area, and Scheunemann is a fundamentalist Christian. But he's prepared to see beyond the likely conflicts.

``I hope I will have the discipline to be the kind of person God wants me to be,'' he said.

CAPTION(S):

Photo

Photo: Timo Scheunemann leads The Master's College men's so ccer team with nine goals and two assists.

Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News