Security worries prevent Antlers from visiting Jakarta

Security worries prevent Antlers from visiting Jakarta

Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesian champion Persija has forgone its home leg in its
Asian Champions League first round match against Kashima Antlers
after the Japanese giant refused to fly to Jakarta due to
security concerns.

The tie will instead be played in a one-off contest at Kashima
City in central Japan on Oct. 24.

"They (Kashima) previously cited their hectic schedule in the
domestic tournament as their reason for rejecting the away
match," spokesman for the Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI),
Eddy Elison, said.

"But it would appear that it wasn't. From their website, it
turns out that they feared traveling to Indonesia because they
were worried about security," he said.

Persija was originally scheduled to host Antlers on Oct. 24
and visit the Japanese side on Nov. 7.

Eddy said the cancellation of the Jakarta match had originally
raised the option of Kashima playing host to both matches, with
Persija demanding that the Japanese champion cover up the 40-
strong Indonesian team's travel expenses.

While Kashima gave its nod to the demand, this option still
meant that Persija would have had to travel back to Japan for the
second leg, which was considered unpractical.

It was agreed later that the second leg match be scrapped and
that the two teams face each other only once on Oct. 24.

Kashima won the 2000 J-League. The 2001 season is still
underway and will end in November.

Persija is representing Indonesia in the Champions League
after winning the domestic competition at the expense of
defending champion PSM Makassar last month.

The runner-up status has relegated PSM to the continent's less
prestigious Cup Winners Cup competition where it is pitted
against FC Victory of Maldives in the first round.

Regarding how to devise a strategy for the game, coach
Syamsudin Umar said on Thursday the team would be resting its
hopes particularly on Hendro Kartiko, Ronny Ririn, Bima Sakti and
Kurniawan Dwi Julianto.

The four might have some knowledge about their opponents from
their tours with the national team, one of whose matches was
against Maldives.

Syamsudin said he knew a bit about the Maldives side's
strength from Kurniawan.

PSM will be away in Male for the first leg on Oct. 24 before
playing the return leg at the Mattoangin Stadium on Nov. 10.

Given its recent performances, PSM should be able to overcome
Victory.

Syamsudin, however, being well aware that Victory could take
advantage of playing host, is not taking the game lightly. "We
must be alert because Victory can be potentially explosive before
its own supporters," he said.

The team is scheduled to leave Makassar on Saturday and stop
off in Jakarta where PSSI Chairman Agum Gumelar will see them off
on Sunday.