14 teams join junior soccer meet

14 teams join junior soccer meet

JAKARTA (JP): The 11th national under-16 soccer championship
gets underway in Jakarta's three West Javanese neighboring towns
today.

Defending champion Central Java joins the safe Group B with
South Sulawesi and Riau in Bekasi. Central Java took top honors
at home last year by beating East Java.

The East Javanese team faces a contrasting fate as they have
to fight dark-horses North Sumatra, South Kalimantan and South
Sumatra in Group D at Bekasi's other stadium.

Another favorite West Java, which is drawn to meet Bengkulu
and Aceh in Group A in Cibinong, is expected to follow in the
footsteps of its senior team Persib which triumphed in the
intercity amateur championship last April.

The Group C played in Bogor pits last year's third winner West
Sumatra against Jakarta, Lampung and Bali.

After round-robin matches, the top two teams of each group
will qualify for the quarterfinal round. Starting from the
semifinals on Sept. 6, the annual championship sponsored by Coca
Cola will move to Manado, North Sulawesi. The final will be held
on the National Sports Day on Sept. 9 before Vice President Try
Sutrisno.

Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman is scheduled
to kick off the tournament in Bogor today, where Lampung tackles
Jakarta. (amd)