Six clubs yet to join 2002 season: PSSI

Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Six soccer clubs have yet to register their participation in the 2002 league, says an official of the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI).

The national soccer body hopes that the six -- Gelora Dewata of Bali, PSDS of Deli Serdang, North Sumatra, Pelita Krakatau Steel of Banten, Persedikab of Kediri, East Java, Arema Malang also from East Java and defending champions Persija Jakarta -- will have completed their registration procedure by Friday.

"We have notified them three times and they are supposed to submit their registration on Nov. 30 at the latest," Iswadi Idris, PSSI's chief in charge of competition, said here on Monday.

An overall 24 teams are expected for the 2002 season, which will kick off on Jan. 13.

If the remaining six meet the deadline, PSSI will have one and a half months to work on the match schedule.

"I hope that they confirm immediately. Any delay can affect the schedule plan," Iswadi said.

Meanwhile, Ahmaddin Ahmad from Persija said that the club failed to register early because it had its managerial post vacant until recently when it recruited Aang Hamid Suganda.

"We had stalled the registration because we were still in the process of selecting our team manager. Now that we already have one, we will immediately lodge in any day before Nov. 30," Ahmaddin told The Jakarta Post.

Ahmaddin was the manager of the 2001 winning team and is now the club's president. Persija beat PSM Makassar in the 2001 final to claim its first league trophy since 1978.

The 24 teams will be split in two groups. Eight top teams, four from each group, will break down to two groups, which will play their quarterfinals tournaments in two different venues to be decided later.

The semifinals remain in Jakarta, but unlike the just concluded season, the matches will be played over two days. The new policy aims at averting a likely overflow of supporters, such a vicinity being chaotic-prone in past seasons.

Iswadi also called on the participants to register their players as the early dates. The clubs may sign up to three foreign players but only two will be allowed in the lines-up in every match. An obligation of listing three juniors of under 21 in age is also required from the participating clubs.