New RI soccer league to be named Dunhill
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian professional soccer league became reality after the country's soccer governing body agreed to re- name it.
The Indonesian League was renamed the Dunhill League after the cigarette producer agreed to pay Rp 4.35 billion (US$2 million) to sponsor the league's first competition round which is slated to start at the end of November.
"We will as of now formally use the name 'Dunhill League' instead of 'Indonesian League' for three years," said chairman of the All-Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) Azwar Anas on Wednesday, disclosing the voting on sponsorship at the meeting of the association's executive directors.
Azwar said the meeting unanimously decided on PT Cipta Citra, Dunhill's representative in Indonesia, as lead sponsor to finance the league competitions for its first three years.
The new name thus put an end to speculation surrounding sponsorship, Azwar said, calling on the league's management to begin preparations for the November kick-off.
Director of the National Team Committee Nirwan Bakrie, who confirmed he had no share in PT Cipta, said that previously his company set up PT Citra Sportindotama to act as lead sponsor for the Indonesian League but later canceled it as Dunhill when announced lead sponsor.
Azwar said the association's meeting, which also elected the league's management, included only one representative from Dunhill, Yakni Said, the company's marketing director, who will serve as a member on the league's sponsorship and promotion committee, Kompas reported yesterday.
This means that Dunhill will have a say in the league's management which is against the will of Agum Gumelar, the association's chairman for amateur athletics.
Agum was reported earlier to have refused to be elected chairman of the league's management, but Azwar said that the meeting named him chairman.
Azwar, who is also Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare, said that of the amount, Rp 100 million will be allotted to subsidize each primary division team, and Rp 50 million for each first division one.
The subsidizing, Azwar said, will be done in four stages. He added that the first competition league will be held at the end of November so as not to coincide with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting which will be held in mid-November in Bogor.
Status
Nirwan said the competition has no status since it involved a contract with the sponsor while on the other hand, some of its participants have amateur status.
Speaking of status, Nirwan said it is only the participants who have either amateur or professional status.
However, sources said that Nirwan's statement did nothing to clarify the competition's unclear status if local associations, which are amateur, should be obliged to use the Dunhill logo.
Nirwan said players will be obliged to sport jerseys bearing the Dunhill logo. Other sponsors will be allowed to add their logos, but only on the backs or on the arms, provided they are not cigarette companies. (arf)