Indonesian League kicks off today
Indonesian League kicks off today
JAKARTA (JP): Mitra Surabaya and Persipura Jayapura will lock horns at the Gelora 10 November stadium in Surabaya, East Java today to mark the kick-off of the Indonesian soccer league championship new season.
Other three matches in Malang, Manado and Medan complete the opening fixtures of the league which is now reduced to 31 clubs. A total of 34 amateur and semi-professional clubs got together last year to form a new-look league which reintroduced foreign footballers.
Persema entertains Persegres of Gresik in Malang today in a battle between two East Javanese sides. In Manado, North Sulawesi, promoted Persma plays host to last year's quarterfinalist Barito Putra of South Kalimantan.
Elsewhere, in Medan, North Sumatra, former amateur champion PSMS plays Persiraja of Banda Aceh. It will be the only Group West match of the day.
The Group West has 15 clubs this season, while the Group East has 16 teams. The league expects to see 471 matches played, including the last 12 round games. The top six teams from each group will qualify for the final 12 round-robin matches to beheld in three cities.
The semifinals and final will be held in Jakarta.
Deputy administrator of the league, Ismet D. Tahir, said that 615 players, including 32 imported ones, are joining the league this season.
"Four Brazilians and a Bulgarian will not be able to play because they have yet to complete their international transfer certificates (ITCs)," Antara quoted Ismet as saying.
The Brazilian players are Marcello Pereira Ramalho of Medan Jaya, Sinval Fraga Pereira of Persita, Tangerang, Wellington Reis of PSIS Semarang, Central Java and Admilson Marcelino Cunha. The fifth player is Bulgarian Plamen Iliev Kazakov who will play for Persebaya of Surabaya.
"We hope to receive the certificates from their respective football association as soon as possible," Ismet said.
The All-Indonesia Football Association received a total promotional fund of Rp 5.35 billion (US$2.3 million). Of the total, each club in the premier and first divisions got Rp 100 million ($43,668) and Rp 50 million ($21,834) respectively.
The association also earmarked Rp 200 million to help clubs sign foreign players and another Rp 250 million to upgrade the quality of referees of the league.
Ismet said that the champion and runner-up of the league will be awarded prize money of Rp 75 million ($32,751) and Rp 50 million ($21,834) respectively. The best player and the top scorer will pocket Rp 25 million and Rp 10 million respectively.
Persib Bandung won the championship last season after beating Petrokimia Putra of Gresik 1-0 in a dramatic final in July.
State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman is scheduled to declare the league's new season open in an spectacular ceremony in Surabaya's Gelora stadium. (icn)