National soccer ruling body to assist all league clubs

JAKARTA (JP): The Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) chairman Agum Gumelar announced on Friday that all of the 28 clubs competing in the 2001 Bank Mandiri soccer league would each receive Rp 225 million (US$23,800) in financial aid from the national soccer ruling body.

Agum said that the association's Rp 5.6 billion budget would be funded by Rp 10 billion in sponsorship from state-owned Bank Mandiri while the remaining Rp 700 million would come from the PSSI's own resources.

"I know that Rp 200 million will not be enough for a club to compete for one full season, but I hope that the clubs will accept the money because PSSI wants all of the clubs to compete in this event."

"But this morning, I saw that the clubs are being very helpful in creating a good atmosphere in the league, so I decided to add more money. Each club will receive an additional Rp 25 million on top of the Rp 200 million," Agum said before officially closing a two-day meeting with representatives of the 28 clubs which will compete in next year's league.

When asked where the money will come from, Agum simply said: "We'll think about that later."

PSSI also allows clubs to seek their own sponsors.

The league is scheduled to kick off on Jan. 14 in Makassar, home of the 2000 league champions PSM. The competition will be divided into western and eastern regions, which will have 14 clubs each.

Agum said that the PSSI has yet to decide on the amount of the prize money for the 2001 champion.

"We have yet to make a decision. But clubs which manage to get as far as the quarterfinals and semifinals will receive additional bonuses for training while the finalists get nothing because they will fight it out for the prize money."

PSSI has signed a memorandum of understanding with league sponsor Bank Mandiri worth Rp 10 billion. Some Rp 2.5 billion will be used to promote the bank in the league; another Rp 985 million is to be given to the PSSI's competition and tournament division. The association's disciplinary commission will receive Rp 250 million, the appeals commission will get Rp 20 million and the public relations division will receive Rp 150 million.

Another Rp 500 million will be used to pay the International Management Group (IMG), which organizes the league.

Speaking on the preparations for the 2001 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, Agum said that six members of the national senior team who were under 23 years of age would be invited to join the training.

"Six players are able to comply with the age limit set by the SEA Games organizers. Included in the six are Bambang Pamungkas and Gendut Doni Christiawan." (ivy)