AFC gives Persib quarterfinals

AFC gives Persib quarterfinals

BANDUNG (JP): Persib Bandung says it has the support of the
Asian Football Confederation for its bid to host the Champions
Cup quarterfinals.

An official of Bandung-based Persib, Dwi Koernianto, said
yesterday that AFC Secretary-General Peter Velappan had confirmed
AFC's willingness to allow Bandung to stage the Group East
quarterfinals at the Siliwangi stadium.

"AFC only required us to improve facilities at the stadium,"
Koernianto said.

He said Velappan would send envoys to the West Java capital
once again on Monday to re-inspect the facilities.

AFC named Persib last week the host of the Group East
quarterfinals, scheduled from Nov. 26 to 30. But it selected
Jakarta's Senayan stadium instead of the Siliwangi stadium as the
venue for the robin matches, after hearing a report from its
envoys.

The envoys, R.I. Indran and N.V. Mould, visited Bandung last
week and did not recommended Bandung for hosting the competition
because neither the turf on the playing field, nor the players'
locker rooms in the 25,000-seat stadium met international
standards.

Persib reacted by handing over the organization of the matches
to the All-Indonesia Football Association.

"Mr. Velappan was surprised when he heard of our furious
response," Koernianto said.

The upgrading project of the stadium, which is owned by the
West Java military command, started yesterday. No less than 30
employees of the Bandung Public Works Office were seen
reconstructing the stadium's drainage system. Other workers
focused on mending the bald field.

Koernianto said that project will include the construction of
two new locker rooms, a press center and a secretariat office
which will be provided with telephones and facsimile machines.

"We believe we can complete the project on time," Koernianto
said. He refused to disclose how much the project would cost
Persib. (pet/amd)