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)