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).