PSM to face Persipura in league opener

PSM to face Persipura in league opener

JAKARTA (JP): The Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) has
confirmed that the 2001 Bank Mandiri national soccer league first
qualifying round will kick off on Jan. 14 in Makassar, South
Sulawesi. The second round will start on April 7.

Defending champion PSM Makassar will challenge Persipura of
Jayapura in the opening match at Mattoangin stadium. Eleven other
matches will also be played throughout the nation.

PSSI's competition director Iswadi Idris said that as of
Thursday, only 16 out of 28 clubs competing in the league had
registered their participation. "We're still waiting for the
clubs to register themselves by Dec. 21 at the latest," he said.

He added that the Indonesian national team has canceled its
participation in the Millennium Super Soccer Cup in India from
Jan. 10 to Jan. 25 due to the league.

The six clubs which finished bottom at the end of the
qualifying rounds will be relegated to the first division while
the two clubs which came top of the first division will move up.
(ivy)