Cooperation, unity needed in developer soccer: Try<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The key to the development of a successful
\nnational soccer league lies in solid cooperation and unity among
\nthose involved in the process, Vice President Try Sutrisno said.<\/p>\n
"Similar views and attitude among the patrons, coaches,
\nplayers, referees and other supportive personnel involved are the
\nfoundation to improve the performance of a national soccer
\nscene," said Try in his speech, welcoming the birth of the new
\nsemiprofessional league, Liga Indonesia (Ligina) on Monday night.<\/p>\n
Thus, the existing system, consisting of 17 clubs registered
\nin the semi-pro Galatama league and 16 of the premier division
\nteams in the amateur Perserikatan (inter-city clubs) plus 16
\nfirst division teams, was formally put to an end.<\/p>\n
Serving as a melting point of all Galatama and Perserikatan
\nclubs, Ligina thus comprises a total of 34 clubs -- perhaps the
\nbiggest number of clubs in a soccer league in the world -- which
\nare divided into two groups, the West group consisting of clubs
\nestablished in the western Indonesian provinces and the East
\ngroup which includes all clubs set up in the eastern Indonesian
\nprovinces.<\/p>\n
The league is open to foreign booters. Until recently, 13
\nforeign players have been imported through the Swiss-based
\nInternational Sports Association which is recognized as the
\nofficial promoter for the designated league. They include booters
\nfrom Brazil, Angola, Rumania, Zaire and Cameroon.<\/p>\n
In addition, two clubs, Mitra Surabaya of Surabaya and Pelita
\nJaya of Jakarta, have already signed foreign players from
\nBulgaria and Yugoslavia.<\/p>\n
Azwar Anas, PSSI's chairman who is also Coordinating Minister
\nfor People's Welfare, said he hoped that in the coming years
\namateur clubs grouped under the Perserikatan league would be
\ngradually converted into professional ones so that Ligina
\neventually became a truly professional league.<\/p>\n
"Developing a pure professional soccer league is a must,"
\nAzwar said, emphasizing that the application of professional
\nprinciples to national soccer is expected to be a turning point
\nwhich will hopefully help pave the way for the national soccer
\nteam to reach its dream: entering the World Cup finals in the
\nyear 2002.<\/p>\n
Home and away matches will be applied to the league's
\npreliminary rounds, which will start on Nov. 27. This means that
\neach participant will have to play 32 matches. The best four of
\neach group will advance to the second rounds which will comprise
\ntwo groups, group A and group B, where each group consists of
\neight teams.<\/p>\n
Within each group, each team plays three times in a round
\nrobin. Then, the best two of each group will progress to the
\nsemifinals (arf).<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/cooperation-unity-needed-in-developer-soccer-try-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}