Jakarta Phinisi awaits fresh recruits for Proliga

Jakarta Phinisi awaits fresh recruits for Proliga

Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Jakarta Phinisi is awaiting the arrival of Lie Hung and Shiung
Che from China ahead of the start of the women's national
volleyball league next month.

Phinisi's coach Tengku Johan said the prospective recruits,
particularly Lie Hung, were needed urgently following Puspita
Dewirani's defection to rival Bogor Tunas.

"We are in need of a setter. After a recommendation from Li
(Qiujiang), we have attempted to approach Lie and Shiung," Johan
told reporters here on Friday.

Li Qiujiang is a former Chinese coach now training the
Indonesian men's team for the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in
Vietnam in December.

Should the plan proceed, Lie will take over Puspita's role as
a setter while Shiung will be used as a quicker.

Johan said the plan to import the women was in line with the
club's target to win the 2003 tournament after last year's third
place.

Jakarta Monas and Gresik Phonska were the 2002 winner and
runner-up respectively.

"But if the scheme falls through, we will assess our own
strength against other participants. The assessment could lead to
a decision to skip the tournament if we see that we will not be
able to compete with the resources we have," Johan said.

"Hopefully, the Chinese players will agree to the salary terms
we have offered. We expect a decision next week," he said, adding
the club had offered a monthly salary of US$1,600 each.

The tournament, known locally as Proliga, features eight men's
and eight women's teams. Each team is allowed to recruit up to
two foreigners.

Hanny Surkatty, a Proliga official, said 18 foreign recruits
would play in Indonesia during the 2003 season. "They are from
Australia, Canada, the United States and China," he said.

The three-month tournament was scheduled to start on Feb. 8.
However, it may be rescheduled due to the withdrawal of promoter
m-lynx and media partner TRANS TV.

Organizers have given an assurance the tournament will
proceed.

"But we have yet to fix the commencement date, because it
depends on the sponsors. We will talk it over next week," Rita
Subowo, chairwoman of the Indonesian Volleyball Federation
(PBVSI), said.

TRANS TV and m-lynx abandoned their partnership with PBVSI
citing a default of their respective financial availability.