Jakarta ready to host league playoffs
JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso said on Monday that the city would go on with its preparations for the Indonesian league playoffs, despite growing fears that the competition would be vulnerable to unrest.
"My stance is clear. I don't want the competition to be canceled due to fears of unrest," Sutiyoso said.
"A cancellation will only present the negative image, especially to foreign countries, that the city is so insecure that even a sports tournament cannot go ahead here," he added.
The All-Indonesia Soccer Federation (PSSI) originally planned to hold the playoff in Jakarta, Surabaya and Medan, but changed its mind and named Jakarta the host of the championship's second round.
The playoff is scheduled to take place next month. It will pit 10 clubs from three regional conferences vying for three championship berths.
Political tension is expected to boil up in the coming months before the June elections.
PSSI terminated last season's league just before the playoff stage due to security concerns.
Sutiyoso said he would consult Jakarta military commander Maj. Gen. Djadja Suparman and the city police chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajusman on security measures to be applied during the league's final 10 round. The move could include restricting the number of fans of visiting teams, according to the governor.
"We will maintain order during the competition and prevent any post-match disturbances," he said, adding that he would ask security authorities to apply stern measures against soccer hooligans.
Sutiyoso said he was optimistic that Jakarta could make the soccer competition a success if it was free from hooligans.
Persebaya Surabaya secured on Monday a place in the playoffs after a 2-2 draw with host Gelora Dewata in a pulsating match in the Ngurah Rai stadium in Denpasar, Antara reported. The play was halted shortly after the interval on Sunday due to water-logging of the pitch, with the East Javanese side leading 1-0.
Persebaya, whose title defense took a knock due to the league's suspension last year, will join PSIS Semarang as representatives of the Central Conference subgroup D.
PSMS Medan and Semen Padang (Western Conference subgroup A), Persija Jakarta and Petrokimia Gresik (Western Conference subgroup B), Persikota Tangerang and Pelita Bakrie of Jakarta (Central Conference subgroup C), and Pupuk Kaltim of Bontang, East Kalimantan (Eastern Conference) have already qualified for the playoffs.
The last berth in the Eastern Conference will be decided in a match between PSM Ujungpandang and Persipura Jayapura on Thursday. PSM will only need a draw, although even a defeat by a one goal margin is enough to see it through to Jakarta. (ind)