PSSI plans to host Asia Cup soccer prequalifying round

PSSI plans to host Asia Cup soccer prequalifying round

JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta is scheduled to host the prequalifying
round of the Asia Cup next month if the political situation
allows the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) to stage the
tournament.

PSSI chairman, Agum Gumelar, said on Tuesday that Indonesia
would challenge Hong Kong on Nov. 14 and Cambodia on Nov. 21 at
the main Senayan stadium. PSSI has also named Medan in North
Sumatra as an alternative venue.

Malaysia is named as the last place to stage the event if FIFA
and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) stop any soccer
matches to take place in Indonesia.

"If FIFA or AFC consider the situation here is insecure to
host both matches, we have prepared our homebase outside
Indonesia. I have asked my officials to approach Malaysia," Agum
said.

However, he declined to disclose his reason on picking
Malaysia as the last alternative.

"It's a nontechnical reason. I won't explain it, but you can
make your own analysis on that," Agum told reporters after his
first meeting with newly appointed PSSI officials.

PSSI has named 18 soccer players, who will fly to Hong Kong on
Friday to compete in the prequalifying games at Mong Kok stadium
on Oct. 24. The team will leave for Phnom Penh on Oct. 26 to face
Cambodia's national team on Oct. 30.

Agum said he set up a special task force to organize the
prequalifying matches. The task force will also ask for permits
from the Jakarta Police in the near future.

The three-star general, who is also the governor of the
National Resilience Institute (Lemhanas), said the meeting on
Tuesday also discussed the sixth Indonesian Soccer League
(Ligina) matches, which will start on Nov. 7.

Agum will kick off Ligina's opening at the Jatidiri stadium in
Semarang.

"We have finished the planning and preparation of the opening
match. We will disperse the new rules to all participants. We
will also divide clubs into two divisions," he said.

Ligina's first series is scheduled to finish on June 4 next
year. Winners and runners-up of eastern and western divisions
will play in the final four. The final will take place on June
11.

"There will be two teams from each division who will face
relegation and promotion from the first division," he said.

PSSI director of competition Iswadi Idris told reporters later
that 28 clubs from both divisions were registered to compete in
Ligina. (ivy)