Promoter withdraws from Indonesian soccer league

Promoter withdraws from Indonesian soccer league

JAKARTA (JP): The promoter of the All Indonesian Soccer
Federation (PSSI), has decided to withdraw from the soccer
league, citing problems finding a financial sponsor.

PT Cipta Citra Sportindo said in its statement to PSSI that it
had been unable to sign a main sponsor before yesterday's
deadline and that it would hand over the problem to the
federation.

"We have received information that the promoter failed to find
a main sponsor for the Indonesian league. In such a situation, it
is difficult to find another company which can promote the
league's tournaments," Nirwan Dermawan Bakrie, the federation's
technical director, said Tuesday.

Nirwan said that such an announcement from the promoter would
undoubtedly affect the clubs. "We expect the clubs to hold a
meeting to solve their problems."

As to the league's tournaments, Nirwan said the number of
tournaments should be reduced. But he stressed it should be
discussed first before a decision was made.

Referring to the subsidy of Rp 5.35 billion (US$535,000) which
Cipta Citra Sportindo was meant to give PSSI for the clubs in the
Indonesian league, Nirwan said he was pessimistic the promoter
would fulfill its obligation.

"With the withdrawal of the promoter from the Indonesian
league, I am very pessimistic it will pay the subsidy. There is a
possibility the clubs will not receive any subsidy. The only
alternative which the clubs have is to find their own sponsors,"
Nirwan said.

State Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Hayono Isman agreed
with Nirwan on the subsidy and called on sponsors in the
provinces to help the clubs.

"I believe there are sponsors in the provinces which could
help their local clubs," Hayono said.

The minister said he was willing to act as mediator in the
meeting between PSSI and the clubs. "I will certainly attend the
meeting and hopefully it will get good results."

Hayono also hoped that the clubs would not dissolve themselves
because they were not receiving the subsidy.

"Arema Malang nearly dissolved itself. But because it managed
to get support from the community in Malang, it did not have to.
Observing this example, I hope that other clubs will not follow
Arema," Hayono said.

PSSI recently told the minister that it would hold a meeting
with local soccer clubs on Feb. 5 to discuss mutual problems such
as sponsorship. (lnt)