Indonesia to host ASEAN Club C'ship

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.