No Indonesian Cup this year: PSSI

No Indonesian Cup this year: PSSI

After giving soccer fans here the promise of a maiden
Indonesian Cup, the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI)
decided on Thursday to call it off due to a very tight schedule
in 2004, that includes international qualifying, the pro club
competition and nationwide elections, a top official said.

PSSI secretary-general Nugraha Besoes told The Jakarta Post
that the tournament had to be called off as local clubs were
still overwhelmed by the already tight schedule of the Indonesian
League. He said that there was no way for the clubs to have the
Indonesian Cup held in between the league schedule.

"The clubs see it as a burden," he said after a meeting to
discuss Indonesian League rescheduling.

Originally, PSSI planned to hold the Cup after the league came
to its conclusion in June. However, it had to be adjourned after
PSSI was told by the National Police that no soccer matches could
take place during the political campaigns for the elections.

Due to the polls, the league schedule will not end until
October.

"But should the Indonesian Cup prevail until October, it will
coincide with the fall of the Muslim holy month of Ramadhan, and
many of players could not play. Moreover, the league's next
season will kick off in January," he said.

The scheduling woes are likely to persist until next year, as
PSSI and the clubs have to deal with a tight international slate
as well.

The national team will play in the World Cup qualification
matches between February and October, followed by the Asian Cup
tournament from July to August, while selected clubs will take on
other Southeast Asian clubs in the Tiger Cup tourney in December.

"The schedule is just too tight to do the Indonesian Cup," he
said. -- JP