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)