Indonesian League kicks off today<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Mitra Surabaya and Persipura Jayapura will lock
\nhorns at the Gelora 10 November stadium in Surabaya, East Java
\ntoday to mark the kick-off of the Indonesian soccer league
\nchampionship new season.<\/p>\n
Other three matches in Malang, Manado and Medan complete the
\nopening fixtures of the league which is now reduced to 31 clubs.
\nA total of 34 amateur and semi-professional clubs got together
\nlast year to form a new-look league which reintroduced foreign
\nfootballers.<\/p>\n
Persema entertains Persegres of Gresik in Malang today in a
\nbattle between two East Javanese sides. In Manado, North
\nSulawesi, promoted Persma plays host to last year's
\nquarterfinalist Barito Putra of South Kalimantan.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, in Medan, North Sumatra, former amateur champion
\nPSMS plays Persiraja of Banda Aceh. It will be the only Group
\nWest match of the day.<\/p>\n
The Group West has 15 clubs this season, while the Group East
\nhas 16 teams. The league expects to see 471 matches played,
\nincluding the last 12 round games. The top six teams from each
\ngroup will qualify for the final 12 round-robin matches to beheld
\nin three cities.<\/p>\n
The semifinals and final will be held in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Deputy administrator of the league, Ismet D. Tahir, said that
\n615 players, including 32 imported ones, are joining the league
\nthis season.<\/p>\n
\"Four Brazilians and a Bulgarian will not be able to play
\nbecause they have yet to complete their international transfer
\ncertificates (ITCs),\" Antara quoted Ismet as saying.<\/p>\n
The Brazilian players are Marcello Pereira Ramalho of Medan
\nJaya, Sinval Fraga Pereira of Persita, Tangerang, Wellington Reis
\nof PSIS Semarang, Central Java and Admilson Marcelino Cunha. The
\nfifth player is Bulgarian Plamen Iliev Kazakov who will play for
\nPersebaya of Surabaya.<\/p>\n
\"We hope to receive the certificates from their respective
\nfootball association as soon as possible,\" Ismet said.<\/p>\n
The All-Indonesia Football Association received a total
\npromotional fund of Rp 5.35 billion (US$2.3 million). Of the
\ntotal, each club in the premier and first divisions got Rp 100
\nmillion ($43,668) and Rp 50 million ($21,834) respectively.<\/p>\n
The association also earmarked Rp 200 million to help clubs
\nsign foreign players and another Rp 250 million to upgrade the
\nquality of referees of the league.<\/p>\n
Ismet said that the champion and runner-up of the league will
\nbe awarded prize money of Rp 75 million ($32,751) and Rp 50
\nmillion ($21,834) respectively. The best player and the top
\nscorer will pocket Rp 25 million and Rp 10 million respectively.<\/p>\n
Persib Bandung won the championship last season after beating
\nPetrokimia Putra of Gresik 1-0 in a dramatic final in July.<\/p>\n
State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman is
\nscheduled to declare the league's new season open in an
\nspectacular ceremony in Surabaya's Gelora stadium. (icn)<\/p>",
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