Ministers vs ambassadors in charity soccer
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Organizers confirmed on Thursday that a charity soccer game between ambassadors and "Gotong Royong" Cabinet ministers will take place at the Bung Karno Sports Complex on Saturday.
"The game aims to raise funds for flood victims. It will start at 9 a.m. at the training ground of the national soccer team," an official of the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI), Dali Taher, told The Jakarta Post at the association's office.
Dali, who preferred to call the game, "Football for Charity and Friendship", said that the idea had been mooted by Belgian Ambassador Luc Darras.
"In a meeting with (PSSI chairman) Agum Gumelar three weeks ago, Darras queried if there were a possibility of embassies in Jakarta initiating a sports program for flood victims," he said.
President Megawati Sukarnoputri is also confirmed to attend the game, where she will perform the honorary kickoff. It will be the second occasion the head of state has turned up to a soccer gathering, the first being the closing ceremony of the 2001 league season.
"The game had initially been arranged for Feb. 23 but President Megawati would not have been available," Dali said.
He said 47 embassies had confirmed their participation, with 22 of them, either ambassadors or their representatives, ready to play.
The playing diplomats are from Algeria, Australia, Belgium, Cambodia, Croatia, France, European Union, Egypt, Japan, South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Slovakia, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Yemen, Britain and Palestine.
"All Cabinet ministers, except Rini Soewandi (Minister of Industry and Trade), have assured us of their participation," Dali said.
Indonesian Military Commander Adm. Widodo A.S., National Police chief Da'i Bachtiar and State Secretary Bambang Kesowo will also show up.
The match will be played in an unusual format, with a playing time of 2x20 minutes instead of the normal 2x45 minutes. Substitution of players will not be restricted.
"Anyone on the pitch may ask to be substituted at any time he wishes if he feels tired," Dali said.
The match will be refereed by FIFA-certified Mark Walmsley, who is also the First Secretary at the British Embassy.
When asked how much money the organizers are expecting to raise, Dali said, "We are not preoccupied with the amount. The point is that we are involved in the program as a token of sympathy for the flood victims."
The recent flooding, the worst ever to hit Jakarta, caused around 50 deaths through drowning or postflood disease and thousands were displaced from their homes.