PSSI to issue guidelines on player transfers, terms

PSSI to issue guidelines on player transfers, terms

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI) will
issue guidelines on players' working terms and their transfer
between clubs across provinces.

The PSSI official in charge of competition and tournaments,
Ismet Djalis Tahir, said on Tuesday the guidelines would be
endorsed after the association completed its preparations for the
upcoming Indonesian Soccer League (Ligina).

The sixth season of Ligina will kick off at Jatidiri stadium
in Semarang, Central Java, on Nov. 7 and will finish in June
2000, probably in Jakarta.

Ismet made his remarks following disputes between clubs on the
transfer of top players.

Some of the league's top names, particularly members of the
national team, have moved to new clubs in the off-season.

PSM Makassar has signed a number of players from the national
team, including goalie Hendro Kartiko and defender Aji Santoso
from Persebaya, and midfielder Bima Sakti and striker Kurniawan
Dwi Yulianto from Pelita Bakrie.

Persebaya defenders Anang Ma'ruf and Sugiantoro and midfielder
Uston Nawawi, and PSIS Semarang midfielder Ali Sunan moved to
Persija Jakarta.

Ali, teammate Bambang Pamungkas and Persija's star striker
Rocky Puttiray also are hoping for offers from foreign clubs.

After the transfers, however, the players' status remained
unclear. Persebaya, for example, was unsure about the status of
its four players which supposedly transferred to PSM and Persija,
and thus failed to register the players for the upcoming Ligina.

"We will take it case by case. We will summon Karwoto
(Persebaya team manager) to hear about the players. In the
future, we will issue a standard ruling on working terms and
transfers," Ismet said on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, PSSI director of promotions Tantowi Yahya said
state-owned television station TVRI agreed to provide live
coverage of Ligina matches.

Tantowi said he had lobbied private television stations to
help promote the league.

"We want to create a good image of Indonesian soccer through
television coverage. It's a difficult task nowadays. Viewers are
used to watching top-quality soccer from Europe and they can make
comparisons with local matches.

"But I'm sure there will be a TV station which will buy the
rights to cover Ligina," he said.

Ismet also said Indonesia would host the prequalifying round
of the Asian Cup at Senayan stadium here. Indonesia will face
Hong Kong on Nov. 14 and Cambodia on Nov. 21. (ivy)