Bandung footballers receive enthusiastic welcome party

Bandung footballers receive enthusiastic welcome party

JAKARTA (JP): Thousands of Bandung soccer enthusiasts joined a
deafening celebration yesterday to toast the heroes who brought
home the President's Cup from the amateur soccer championship.

The home crowds, who had waited for the winning team since six
in the morning, formed a long row ranging from Ciburuy, Bandung's
easternmost subdistrict, to the capital city of West Java. Their
waving hands were just appetizers for yesterday's party as a
barrage of buoyant fans poured into the street to shake hands
with, or even kiss, Robby Darwis and company.

The 16 triumphant footballers and their officials, including
Ateng Wahyudi, Persib team manager and Bandung mayor, were picked
up in a motorcade. An open jeep carrying Robby, the
championship's best player, Sutiono and Dede Iskandar led the
parade to city hall, with Robby hoisting the trophy along the
way.

The winning team, who set off from Jakarta yesterday morning,
completed the 180-km drive at Gedung Pakuan, the name for the
city hall, at Jl. Otista.

"Long live Persib," Governor R. Nuriana spontaneously hailed
the footballers when they entered the hall's gates. A number of
pencak silat martial arts masters flanked Robby and teammates.

Bonuses

Governor Nuriana handed a total of Rp 256 million (US$124,000)
in cash rewards to the Bandung football players during
yesterday's welcome party. The rewards included Rp 200 million
($93,600) in bonuses earmarked by renowned tycoon Sudwikatmono, a
close relative of President Soeharto.

"The Bandung team is a harmonious blend of a powerful tiger
and a gorgeous prince," Nuriana praised his winning side. Persib
is nicknamed Maung, meaning a tiger in Sundanese but also well
known as the Blue Prince for its favorite blue uniforms.

Chairman of the All Indonesian Football Association (PSSI)
Azwar Anas, who had just made a devotional visit to PSSI's
founding father Soeratin at Sirnaraga cemetery in Bandung, joined
the celebration. Azwar's devotional visit was among PSSI programs
held in conjunction with its 64th anniversary.

Persib captured the symbol of national supremacy in amateur
soccer after sinking title holder PSM Ujungpandang 2-0 in
Sunday's final at Senayan stadium, with Yudi Guntara and Sutiono
scoring the goals. Persib has won the title five times since the
inaugural championship in 1931.

Meanwhile, in Surabaya East Java Governor Basofi Sudirman
deplored that conduct of the hundreds of supporters from the
province who had vandalized several stations on their way back
home, after seeing their favorites go down 1-0 to Ujungpandang in
the semifinals. The high tempered supporters stopped their
misconduct when Yogyakarta authorities gave them food and drink
for free.

Jakarta city police detained 31 suspects on Sunday on charges
varying from vandalism to assault during the grand finale. At
least 21 vehicles, mainly from Bandung, were damaged by hooligans
who were disappointed by the Ujungpandang loss. (amd)