Jakarta to host Asian futsal championship

JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta is set to host the Asian Futsal Championship in October 2002, according to an official from the Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI).

Ronny Pattinasarany, the PSSI's official in charge of futsal development, said that the Asian soccer governing body, the AFC, had approved Indonesia's proposal to host the event.

The PSSI submitted the proposal at an AFC meeting in Tehran last July, which coincided with the 3rd Asian Futsal Championship.

When asked why Indonesia won the approval given the fact that the sport only arrived in the country in February, Ronny said: "The AFC sees that Indonesia is eligible to host the event."

"And we are prepared for that," the soccer living legend said on the sidelines of a coaching clinic jointly organized by the PSSI and McDonald's here on Tuesday. He said that the date of the event would be revealed later.

In preparation for the Asian event, the PSSI is set to unveil the Premier Futsal League starting next month. The competition will feature 16 clubs, which will be divided into four groups, and is expected to last between seven and ten days.

Of the participating clubs, six will come from Bandung, Surabaya, Balikpapan in East Kalimantan, Purwokerto in Central Java and Jakarta. The PSSI has visited these cities as part of the futsal coaching clinic program.

Ronny said the program would be introduced in another three towns this month, namely Makassar in South Sulawesi, Semarang and Medan in North Sumatra.

"During October we will go to another seven towns before the inauguration of the league," he said, adding that the league would serve as the selection ground for a national team.

Cepi Husada, an executive member of the Indonesian futsal league organizer, said the PSSI had decided to allow a futsal team to include soccer players associated with the Indonesian soccer premier league.

"To make the game competitive and interesting, they are allowed to play. Otherwise, we fear that futsal may become a second-class game," he said.

Futsal was first introduced in February this year and the PSSI has been picking up the pace in marketing the sport throughout the country.

A program aimed at introducing the sport to youth has also been put into effect with the launch of "McFutsal With Ronny Pattinasarany" at Don Bosco senior high school in East Jakarta on Tuesday.

"Through this promotion, we want to accelerate the spread of the sport across the country as required by the AFC," Ronny said. (01)