PSSI promises security for Asian Club Championships

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi (JP): The Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) has given security assurances for the eastern quarterfinals matches of the Asian Club Championships to be held at Mattoangin stadium here from March 21 through March 25.

PSSI Secretary General Tri Goestoro brushed aside the fears of violence during the matches expressed by three visiting inspectors from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), saying that Makassar was not a target for any social upheaval.

"Makassar has been declared a safe city so don't worry about safety here," he told The Jakarta Post late on Thursday.

The matches will feature host PSM Makassar, the Suwon Bluewings of South Korea, Jubilo Iwata of Japan and Shandong Luneng of China.

Tri explained that some teams were worried about security in Indonesia particularly after ethnic clashes broke out in Sampit and Palangkaraya in Central Kalimantan in mid-February.

He said he had assured them that the clashes would have no significant effect on the soccer matches to be staged in the South Sulawesi capital.

"Indonesia does not only comprise Kalimantan. They thought that Makassar and Sampit were close, whereas the two cities are located far away from each other on two different islands. So there is no reason to say that Makassar is unsafe," he asserted.

Tri said that he had toured the town along with other PSSI officials. He also said that the South Sulawesi Police chief, Inspector General Sofyan Jacob, had vowed to maintain security during the matches.

Chairman of the Club Championships organizing committee Ilham Arief Siradjuddin said that the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) had formally assigned PSM as the host for the event after the city completed its preparations.

"The AFC gave its approval at a meeting between the organizing committee and the representatives of the AFC and AML (Asian Marketing Limited) at the Sahid Makassar hotel. The AFC also had no problem with the stadium," he told the Post.

He said that the AFC had asked the committee to do some finishing work, including to the fence at the eastern bleachers.

The AFC had also asked the committee to control local fans, who invaded the pitch immediately after PSM beat Arema Malang on Thursday. "Our spectators were the main focus of their attention, so they asked us to heighten the fences," Ilham said.

The AFC had also asked the committee to further improve the lighting equipment.

He said that the AFC representatives would return on March 15 for a final inspection. "Their visits here are routine. It's their job to come to Makassar to inspect (the preparations)."

Fixtures

March 21: Suwon Bluewings vs Jubilo Iwata, PSM Makassar vs Shandong Luneng.

March 23: PSM Makassar vs Suwon Bluewings, Jubilo Iwata vs Shandong Luneng.

March 25: Shandong Luneng vs Suwon Bluewings, Jubilo Iwata vs PSM Makassar. (27)