PSSI turns a profit in W. Cup qualifying match

JAKARTA (JP): The Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) had a thicker wallet after receiving Rp 167,114,000 (US$15,000) in profit from hosting the 2002 World Cup prequalifying match against China at Bung Karno stadium in Senayan complex here on Sunday.

PSSI spokesman Eddi Elison said PSSI earned Rp 397.1 million revenue from selling 60,000 tickets for the May 27 match. PSSI spent some Rp 230 million in hosting the qualifier.

"The profits will help PSSI earn extra money to finance the training program for the 2001 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur," he said on Thursday.

But PSSI suffered losses in the other two Group Nine qualifying matches at home. Eddi said that PSSI only received Rp 174 million from selling 29,000 tickets when hosting the Maldives on April 8 and Rp 225 million from 40,000 ticket sales when facing Cambodia on April 22.

The sale price of tickets was between Rp 10,000 and Rp 25,000.

"The highest revenue came from Chinese companies that displayed advertisements during the May 27 match. We received up to $34,000 from advertisements alone," Eddi said.

Indonesia failed to advance to the second qualifying round after a 2-0 defeat at home by China. Earlier, China beat Indonesia 5-1 in Kunming.

PSSI has promised the National Sports Council (KONI) to self finance the training program. Training for the men's team has yet to begin, but the women's team training started on May 26 and runs through June 30 at Ragunan sports school in South Jakarta.

PSSI is currently grooming 33 women's players for the biennial event. Only 20 of them will join the national core squad for the Sept. 8 to Sept. 17 Games in Kuala Lumpur. Soccer matches will take place from Sept. 6 to Sept. 15. (ivy)