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