Cooperation, unity needed in developer soccer: Try

Cooperation, unity needed in developer soccer: Try

JAKARTA (JP): The key to the development of a successful
national soccer league lies in solid cooperation and unity among
those involved in the process, Vice President Try Sutrisno said.

"Similar views and attitude among the patrons, coaches,
players, referees and other supportive personnel involved are the
foundation to improve the performance of a national soccer
scene," said Try in his speech, welcoming the birth of the new
semiprofessional league, Liga Indonesia (Ligina) on Monday night.

Thus, the existing system, consisting of 17 clubs registered
in the semi-pro Galatama league and 16 of the premier division
teams in the amateur Perserikatan (inter-city clubs) plus 16
first division teams, was formally put to an end.

Serving as a melting point of all Galatama and Perserikatan
clubs, Ligina thus comprises a total of 34 clubs -- perhaps the
biggest number of clubs in a soccer league in the world -- which
are divided into two groups, the West group consisting of clubs
established in the western Indonesian provinces and the East
group which includes all clubs set up in the eastern Indonesian
provinces.

The league is open to foreign booters. Until recently, 13
foreign players have been imported through the Swiss-based
International Sports Association which is recognized as the
official promoter for the designated league. They include booters
from Brazil, Angola, Rumania, Zaire and Cameroon.

In addition, two clubs, Mitra Surabaya of Surabaya and Pelita
Jaya of Jakarta, have already signed foreign players from
Bulgaria and Yugoslavia.

Azwar Anas, PSSI's chairman who is also Coordinating Minister
for People's Welfare, said he hoped that in the coming years
amateur clubs grouped under the Perserikatan league would be
gradually converted into professional ones so that Ligina
eventually became a truly professional league.

"Developing a pure professional soccer league is a must,"
Azwar said, emphasizing that the application of professional
principles to national soccer is expected to be a turning point
which will hopefully help pave the way for the national soccer
team to reach its dream: entering the World Cup finals in the
year 2002.

Home and away matches will be applied to the league's
preliminary rounds, which will start on Nov. 27. This means that
each participant will have to play 32 matches. The best four of
each group will advance to the second rounds which will comprise
two groups, group A and group B, where each group consists of
eight teams.

Within each group, each team plays three times in a round
robin. Then, the best two of each group will progress to the
semifinals (arf).