PSSI meets Rp1 billion from c'ship gate entrance target

PSSI meets Rp1 billion from c'ship gate entrance target

JAKARTA (JP): The All Indonesia Football Association (PSSI)
meet its Rp 1 billion (US$486,000) gate entrance target for the
10-day intercity amateur soccer championship.

PSSI vice secretary Soemaryoto said after the conclusion of
the biennial event on Sunday night that the organizers might rack
up Rp 1.2 billion ($561,000) in cash through ticket sales.

"The amount of this season's revenue equals that in 1992,"
said Soemaryoto.

Sunday's grand finale at Senayan stadium earned PSSI around Rp
500 million ($234,000) as all 100,000 tickets were sold. Earlier
on Friday, for the semifinals, the organizers received Rp 408
million ($191,000). Tickets for the semifinals and final were
sold at between Rp 3,000 ($1.4) and Rp 25,000 ($11.70).

PSSI also claims that the April 8-13 qualifying round which
featured eight teams gave it Rp 293 million ($137,000).

Persib Bandung took the symbol of national supremacy in
amateur soccer for the third time in ten years after outclassing
defending champion PSM Ujungpandang 2-0 on Sunday. Bandung
produced a double when star striker Sutiono was named the best
player.

A whopping amount of bonuses await Robby Darwis and company,
who displayed superb attack-minded football before West Java
Governor R. Nuriana during the final.

Nuriana said after the match that Sudwikatmono, a renowned
tycoon who is also a close relative of President Soeharto, had
promised to give them Rp 200 million ($93,600) in cash. The
players will also receive Rp 10 million ($4,679) each from the
West Java chapter of PSSI.

The kudos seems to have no end as PSSI is thinking of another
form of reward for the champion. "We plan to send Persib abroad
for an international meet," said PSSI chairman Azwar Anas.

Persib represented Indonesia in a tournament in Brunei in 1986
after its triumph in that year's intercity amateur soccer
championship. The West Javanese won the international meet and
brought home the Sultan's Cup.

Azwar gave no indication on whether the Bandung players will
form the nucleus of the national team. The national side's
assistant coach, Andi M. Teguh, however, said he considered
picking Sutiono and Surabaya's Dodik Suprayogi to join the team
preparing for the Independence Cup in August.

PSSI has announced that the international tournament held in
conjunction with the republic's 49th anniversary will serve as
the proving ground for Indonesia's campaign to take part in the
soccer competition at the Hiroshima Asian Games in October. (amd)