PSSI shows its commitment to developing futsal in RI<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The newly introduced five-a-side futsal will be
\ndeveloped in Indonesia over the next four years to guarantee that
\nthe country will have a champion futsal team.<\/p>\n
Officials of the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) and
\nthe McDonalds chain of fastfood restaurants, who jointly launched
\nthe sport, said on Friday that it will involve promoting futsal
\nand organizing a league here.<\/p>\n
\"We will start the national futsal league sometimes next year
\nwhile we concentrate on promoting it this year,\" said McDonald's
\ncommunity marketing manager Cepi S. Husada.<\/p>\n
\"Our next step is to participate in the Asian championships
\norganized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in 2003. The
\ntarget is not to win but just to gain experience.\"<\/p>\n
\"We will fully support the sport until the 2004 Futsal World
\nChampionship.\"<\/p>\n
Cepi was speaking on the sidelines of a media conference prior
\nto the first futsal tournament ever to be held in the country.
\nAlso present was PSSI's head of the coaching commission and the
\nofficial in charge of junior development, Ronny Pattinasarani,
\nalso a former national soccer player.<\/p>\n
Students from 16 soccer schools from around Jakarta will
\ncompete in the Rp 6.5 million (US$650) tournament.<\/p>\n
The qualifying round is to be held at Simprug Sports Hall,
\nSouth Jakarta from March 24 to March 26. The quarterfinals and
\nsemifinals will take place at the Bung Karno Basketball Hall on
\nApril 1 while the final is to be held at the Bung Karno Indoor
\nStadium on April 19 to commemorate PSSI's 71st anniversary.<\/p>\n
\"We want to introduce futsal through young players who are
\nalready training in soccer schools. We hope they can improve
\ntheir soccer skills through futsal,\" Cepi said.<\/p>\n
\"They can learn how to control the ball because they play on a
\nsmaller field in futsal.\"<\/p>\n
Futsal originated in Uruguay and is played on a basketball-
\nsized court either indoors or outdoors without the use of
\nsidewalls.<\/p>\n
\"We are organizing the tournament during the holidays in order
\nnot to interrupt the participants' schooling schedule. Besides,
\nwe want the whole family to come to matches,\" Ronny said.<\/p>\n
\"Many great Brazilian soccer players, such as Pele, Zico,
\nBebeto, and Socrates started from futsal.\"<\/p>\n
Cepi also said that AFC is offering Indonesia the chance to be
\nhost of the Asian championships. (nvn)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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