Indonesia to host ASEAN Club C'ship

Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesia will host the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Club Championship in July, a top official of the country's soccer governing body PSSI said.

"Nine club championship teams from their respective leagues, two from Indonesia and an invited club from India will participate the championship," PSSI Chairman Agum Gumelar said after the signing of the Rp 1.3 billion (US$144,444) one-year sponsorship deal between PSSI and PT. Tang Beverage company here on Thursday.

ASEAN currently groups 10 nations, including Indonesia.

Indonesia was appointed as the host of the event during the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) meeting in Bangkok last week.

The championship will run from July 13 through July 27. Indonesia will be represented by Petrokimia Putra and Persita Tangerang, the winner and runner-up respectively of the 2002 Indonesian soccer league.

While the names of the other clubs have yet to be announced, the competition, according to PSSI secretary-general Tri Goestoro, will be divided into four groups.

"Petro will host two groups at its stadium in Gresik (East Java) and the other two groups will be played at the Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta. Persita was supposed to host the matches in Tangerang but the its stadium is not up to standard," Tri said.

Two teams from each group will go to the quarterfinals. The semifinals and final matches will be played at one stadium -- either Petrokimia or Bung karno -- to be decided later.

Asked if Petro, Persita and other participating teams might be allowed to recruit new players for short-term use, Tri said the issue would be discussed at a meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.

The champion will earn US$50,000, second place $30,000, third place $20,000 and fourth place $10,000.

Meanwhile, Agum said PSSI would work out further details about the scheme of a new league format of the premier competition, which will eventually involve only 16 teams. The Indonesian league currently features 20 teams

"It could be six teams that get relegated from the premier and two promoting to the top flight. Or we could play with 18 teams in the next season before we have a final 16 in the following season," Agum said, adding that another option that the promotion/relegation system be decided in a playoff would also be discussed.