Jakarta hosts Champions Cup league quarterfinals
Jakarta hosts Champions Cup league quarterfinals
JAKARTA (JP): The Asia Football Confederation yesterday turned down Bandung's Persib bid to host the Champions Cup league quarterfinals at the end of this month and picked Jakarta instead.
A Persib spokesman, Dwi Koernianto, quoted a statement released by the confederation yesterday that Bandung does not have a representative venue to host the quarterfinal round-robin matches.
The decision came after the federation heard a report from its envoys, R. Indran and N.V. Mould, who inspected Bandung's Siliwangi stadium on Friday.
"Bandung will not be able to upgrade its stadium in just two weeks," Koernianto quoted the confederation's announcement. "The Senayan stadium in Jakarta is considered the most feasible site."
Indran said during his visit to Bandung, West Java that neither the turf on the playing field, nor the players' locker rooms at the 30,000-seat stadium met international standards. Indran also criticized the lack of a pressroom at the stadium.
He warned Persib of a strike by visiting players if they are not satisfied with the facilities provided.
The confederation named Persib the host of the Group East quarterfinals, scheduled for Nov. 26 to Nov. 30. Persib, South Korean champion Ilhwa Chunma, Japanese champion Verdy Kawasaki and Cup holder Thai Farmers, will be vying for two semifinal spots.
In response to the confederation's decision, Persib planned to hand over the organization of the matches to the All-Indonesia Football Association.
"We will be very busy with our training program ahead of the competition. We don't want those organizational jobs to distract our preparation," Persib chairman, Wahyu Hamidjaja, was quoted by Antara yesterday.
The football association suggested to Persib last week that it play its Asia Championship quarterfinals here.
Winners Cup
In the Winners Cup quarterfinals, Indonesia's hopeful, Petrokimia Putra Gresik, is facing foreseen elimination after its 0-6 away rout by Japan's Bellmare Hiratsuka on Monday.
Brazilian Emerson struck a hat trick to lead the goal spree on a weakened Indonesian side which missed Widodo Cahyo Putra, Eri Irianto and Suwandi. The three trump cards are joining the national squad for the 18th Southeast Asian Games.
Petrokimia paid a dear price for displaying a makeshift defense marking. Arifin scored a goal three minutes before the break.
The East Javanese side needs to neutralize Hiratsuka with at least a seven-goal margin at home on Nov. 28. (amd)