Proliga to start 2003 season with fewer teams
Proliga to start 2003 season with fewer teams
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Despite the absence of a tournament promoter, the Indonesian
Volleyball Association (PBVSI) will carry on with its plan to
stage the 2003 national professional volleyball league, which is
locally known as Proliga, starting on Feb. 14, an official says.
The league was initially scheduled to start on Feb. 8 before
event promoter m-lynx, which organized last season's tournament,
divulged its parting last month citing financial default.
"We are relieved that we have been able to work through the
difficulties and come up with another season of volleyball," Rita
Subowo, the PBVSI chairwoman, told a media conference here on
Friday.
She failed, however, to elaborate on how the Association could
run the league in the absence of such an organized financial
promoter.
But, in an effort to cut costs, the tournament organizer has
decided to reduce the number of the participating teams from 16
to 12, six apiece in the men's and women's divisions, Rita said.
The men's teams are Jakarta Monas, Jakarta Phinisi, Jakarta
Sananta, Yogya Gunadarma, Surabaya Flame and the 2002 champion,
Bandung Tectona.
Meanwhile, reigning champion Jakarta Monas will launch its
defense in the women's division against Jakarta Phinisi, Bandung
Artdeco, Bandung Tectona, Yogya Gunadarma and Gresik Phonska.
TVRI and TRANS TV remain the tournament's TV partners, but the
number of live slots will be cut significantly. Along with m-
lynx, TRANS early this month announced its withdrawal, but then
said it wanted to get involved in the tournament again only this
week.
Tournament director Hanny Surkatty announced that 18 foreign
players would be involved in the competition, which will last
until April 20.
Unlike last season, the partnerships between foreigners and
local teams will not be wholly decided upon by the PBVSI, he
said.
"Some teams have made their own choices and negotiated
directly with the players," Hanny said.
Among them are American and Chinese players who will make
their first appearances in the league. Others are Australian and
Canadian nationals.
The league will be played in a tournament format with Bandung,
Yogyakarta, Jakarta, Gresik taking turns at hosting the matches.