Indonesian league to kick off Nov. 16
Indonesian league to kick off Nov. 16
JAKARTA (JP): Despite uncertainties over sponsorship, the
fourth Indonesian League soccer competition is to start on Nov.
16, an Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) spokesman has said.
"Thirty-one clubs will compete in the fourth Indonesian League
tournament and the system of competition will be different from
before," Tondo Widodo said during a weekly association meeting
Thursday.
The meeting was chaired by the association's secretary,
Nugraha Besoes.
Tondo said that two clubs, Asyabaab Salim Group (ASGS) from
Surabaya and Bandung Raya (BR) had withdrawn from the upcoming
competition.
"ASGS and BR have not retracted the letters they sent to PSSI
saying they had withdrawn from the Indonesian League."
He said that if ASGS and BR now wished to compete in the
fourth league competition, they would have to qualify with the
first division clubs and not get automatic entry as the other
premier division sides do.
Tondo said that the 31 clubs would be divided into three
zones, West (10 clubs), Central (11) and East (10).
"After the first round of home and away matches have been
played, there will be 12 clubs and the clubs will be divided into
four groups. To make it fair, each group will consist of home and
away games," Tondo said.
The winners of the four groups will proceed to the semifinals
on June 12 and the final is slated for June 14.
Tondo said the association was still negotiating with several
companies over who would be the main sponsor.
"The Indonesian League competition will still continue since
PT Cipta Citra has guaranteed the continuation of the League
competitions as the company has signed an eight-year contract
with PSSI," Tondo said.
Cipta Citra has bought the commercial rights of the Indonesian
League for the first eight years and the company is obliged to
give a subsidy of Rp 150 million to the premier division clubs,
and Rp 5.35 billion to PSSI as development funds.
Tondo said that for this year's League competitions, each club
had the right to seek their own sponsors. "But the sponsors may
not come from television, sports clothing or tobacco companies.
"Cipta Citra has signed a contract with ANteve, Olan and a
tobacco company, which will probably become the main sponsor."
(lnt)