Indriyanto breaks transfer record

Indriyanto breaks transfer record

JAKARTA (JP): The bizarre aftermath of an ambitious project
sending national junior football players to Italy took its toll
when Indriyanto Nugroho completed a cynical deal which cost his
new club just Rp 100 (5 US cents) on Friday.

It must be the cheapest transfer ever in the soccer world, but
the Surakarta, Central Java-based club, Arseto, did ask the
ridiculous price of giant club Pelita Jaya.

"We don't want to pose a hurdle to Indriyanto's career. We
just want everybody to respect us because we have groomed him
since he was a no-name," Arseto manager Halim Perdana said after
signing the deal with Pelita manager Andrie Amien.

Officials of the All-Indonesia Football Association were
present at the signing.

Transfer confusion marred Indonesian soccer soon after the
Italian stint called Primavera concluded last year, with the
national soccer body hanging up the status of some junior
players.

Indriyanto, an obvious victim of the ambiguity, told Bola
sports tabloid last week that he never wanted to be a part of
Arseto. His move to Pelita will earn him Rp 1.5 million a month.

Halim denied the statement, saying that Arseto, owned by
President Soeharto's son Sigit Harjojudanto, recruited Indriyanto
from a small club Fortuna in Sukoharjo, 25 kilometers east of
Surakarta, through talent scouting.

"But if he insists on playing for Pelita, we will let him go
without any reserve," Halim told Antara.

Andrie said that he did not think that Arseto intended to mock
him by asking such a very low price. Pelita had previously bought
Aples Tecuari, Indriyanto's Primavera teammate, from Persipura
Jayapura in a Rp 15 million deal.

Dali Taher, transfer manager of the soccer body, said that
Indriyanto's transfer, which could have been worth millions
rupiah, should not be measured by the price.

"Let's just consider the good will of Arseto and Pelita Jaya
to solve the problem," he said. (05)