RI soccer league reverts to old format

RI soccer league reverts to old format

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Indonesian soccer governing body, the PSSI, has decided to
revert to the old system of competition for the 2003 league
season to pursue the revitalization of national soccer, PSSI
chairman Agum Gumelar said here on Friday.

Unlike the previous seasons, in which the participating clubs
were divided into two divisions, the 2003 league will see the
teams play their matches in a round-robin format.

However, it is not totally new to Indonesian soccer as the
system was once used by both club competitions and provincial
administration-sponsored club competitions until the early 1990s
when the two competitions were merged into the system we know
today.

"As the most of the clubs wish, we have resolved that we will
play the next matches in full competition," Agum said.

"With this format, there will be more matches, which means
hopefully more spectators. And we expect the season will become
livelier," he said.

Four clubs -- Persib Bandung, Persikota Tangerang, Pelita KS
Cilegon and Persipura Jayapura -- have formerly objected to the
new format.

"I'm aware of the differences, but it is impossible to satisfy
everyone. At least, we have satisfied the majority," Agum said,
adding that the four clubs had agreed to go along with the
majority.

The competition is scheduled to run from Jan. 12 through Aug.
10 with 20 clubs on the list. The kick-off will be marked by a
match pitting the 2002 champion Petrokimia Gresik against one of
the remaining teams.

The competition format reversion means that there will be no
more quarterfinals, semifinals and final as used to be the case.
The champion will be known soon after the matches have been
played.

In the past, the clubs who managed to finish on the top of
their respective groups would have to play a few more matches
until the grand final before winning the league.

Agum, who is also Minister of Transportation, announced that
there would be subsidies and 40 percent discounts on flights to
help ease the clubs' financial burdens.

"As a results of a compromise, we will grant Rp 350 million
(US$38,888) for each club and flight discounts," he said.

Agum spoke about an ideal competition in the future in which
he said that the league would only have 16 clubs in the
competition as of 2004.

With the current 20 clubs, the 2003 competition will see six
clubs demoted from the first division, from which two winners
will be going through to the premier division.