Bandung footballers receive enthusiastic welcome party<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Thousands of Bandung soccer enthusiasts joined a
\ndeafening celebration yesterday to toast the heroes who brought
\nhome the President's Cup from the amateur soccer championship.<\/p>\n
The home crowds, who had waited for the winning team since six
\nin the morning, formed a long row ranging from Ciburuy, Bandung's
\neasternmost subdistrict, to the capital city of West Java. Their
\nwaving hands were just appetizers for yesterday's party as a
\nbarrage of buoyant fans poured into the street to shake hands
\nwith, or even kiss, Robby Darwis and company.<\/p>\n
The 16 triumphant footballers and their officials, including
\nAteng Wahyudi, Persib team manager and Bandung mayor, were picked
\nup in a motorcade. An open jeep carrying Robby, the
\nchampionship's best player, Sutiono and Dede Iskandar led the
\nparade to city hall, with Robby hoisting the trophy along the
\nway.<\/p>\n
The winning team, who set off from Jakarta yesterday morning,
\ncompleted the 180-km drive at Gedung Pakuan, the name for the
\ncity hall, at Jl. Otista.<\/p>\n
"Long live Persib," Governor R. Nuriana spontaneously hailed
\nthe footballers when they entered the hall's gates. A number of
\npencak silat martial arts masters flanked Robby and teammates.<\/p>\n
Bonuses<\/p>\n
Governor Nuriana handed a total of Rp 256 million (US$124,000)
\nin cash rewards to the Bandung football players during
\nyesterday's welcome party. The rewards included Rp 200 million
\n($93,600) in bonuses earmarked by renowned tycoon Sudwikatmono, a
\nclose relative of President Soeharto.<\/p>\n
"The Bandung team is a harmonious blend of a powerful tiger
\nand a gorgeous prince," Nuriana praised his winning side. Persib
\nis nicknamed Maung, meaning a tiger in Sundanese but also well
\nknown as the Blue Prince for its favorite blue uniforms.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the All Indonesian Football Association (PSSI)
\nAzwar Anas, who had just made a devotional visit to PSSI's
\nfounding father Soeratin at Sirnaraga cemetery in Bandung, joined
\nthe celebration. Azwar's devotional visit was among PSSI programs
\nheld in conjunction with its 64th anniversary.<\/p>\n
Persib captured the symbol of national supremacy in amateur
\nsoccer after sinking title holder PSM Ujungpandang 2-0 in
\nSunday's final at Senayan stadium, with Yudi Guntara and Sutiono
\nscoring the goals. Persib has won the title five times since the
\ninaugural championship in 1931.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, in Surabaya East Java Governor Basofi Sudirman
\ndeplored that conduct of the hundreds of supporters from the
\nprovince who had vandalized several stations on their way back
\nhome, after seeing their favorites go down 1-0 to Ujungpandang in
\nthe semifinals. The high tempered supporters stopped their
\nmisconduct when Yogyakarta authorities gave them food and drink
\nfor free.<\/p>\n
Jakarta city police detained 31 suspects on Sunday on charges
\nvarying from vandalism to assault during the grand finale. At
\nleast 21 vehicles, mainly from Bandung, were damaged by hooligans
\nwho were disappointed by the Ujungpandang loss. (amd)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bandung-footballers-receive-enthusiastic-welcome-party-1447893297",
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