PSSI sets date for meeting with soccer clubs

PSSI sets date for meeting with soccer clubs

JAKARTA (JP): The All Indonesian Football Federation (PSSI) is
to meet local soccer clubs on Feb. 5 to discuss mutual problems
them, including sponsorship.

"The association will call club managers and owners to meet on
Feb. 5 to discuss problems faced by the association including on
the issue of promoters and sponsorship," PSSI secretary Nugraha
Besoes said after meeting with State Minister of Youth Affairs
and Sports Hayono Isman yesterday.

Hayono told the association that he was aware of the situation
faced by PSSI and hoped all the problems could be finalized.

"It's difficult for the association to find a substitute for
the existing promoter, PT Cipta Citra Sportindo. I hope that by
next year, PSSI will get a new promoter, Hayono said.

Hayono was of the opinion that it would be best if each club
included in the Indonesian league find their own sponsor for this
year's competitions.

"It is difficult for the promoter to finance all the clubs
because there are no sponsors. I think PSSI should discuss the
problem with the promoter first before filing a lawsuit against
it," Hayono said.

Meanwhile, talks on Tuesday between PSSI and the promoter
became deadlocked, Tondo said.

He said the meeting between the two sides mostly concentrated
on the sponsorship for the 1997-1998 national league competition.

Tondo acted as the spokesman in the meeting which was attended
by the promoter's director, Jeannette Sujunadi, and the
association members, including Nugraha, Adang Ruchiatna, Andy
Soma, Moengkono and Nabon Noor.

According to Tondo, the promoter has tried to seek a sponsor
for the fourth Indonesian league competitions but in the most
recent negotiations, many companies which at first were
interested in becoming sponsors withdrew.

"The most probable excuse why the companies withdrew their
participation as sponsors was due to the economic crisis. Among
the companies which the promoter had contacted were Rothmans,
Gudang Garam, Bentoel Internasional, Djarum and Sampoerna (all
cigarette companies).

"The promoter failed to convince these companies of the
benefits of sponsorship," Tondo said.

Referring to the subsidy of Rp 5.35 billion which the promotor
has to present to PSSI, Tondo said that this was an obligation on
the part of the promoter, regardless of the sponsor. The subsidy
will be for the clubs in the Indonesian league.

"One of the articles in the contract clearly states the
obligation of the promoter to submit the Rp 5.35 billion subsidy.
PSSI hopes the promotor will fulfill its obligation," Tondo said.

Tondo, however, said that Tuesday's meeting was not final as
the two sides had agreed to hold another meeting on Jan. 20. "The
next meeting is expected to be more concrete and PSSI will be
firmer in its stance."

The spokesman added that PSSI actually understands the
problems faced by the clubs. But he hoped that the clubs are
aware that PSSI will do its best to settle the problem with the
promoter.

"Whatever the conditions, PSSI still holds the business
ethics. In the contract with the promoter, the association cannot
contact the sponsors directly," Tondo said. (lnt/yan)