Soccer league to proceed despite sponsorship doubts

JAKARTA (JP): The chairman of the All Indonesian Soccer Federation Agum Gumelar reiterated on Wednesday that the upcoming league would kick off as scheduled despite the uncertain sponsorship situation.

Agum said the federation had earmarked Rp 100 million (US$14,000) in subsidies for each of the 28 participating clubs, a quarter of which would be handed over to all the team managers on Oct. 28.

"As the league opener draws near, we can no longer wait for our promoter, Star Point, to strike any sponsorship deals," Agum said.

He declined to unveil the source of the reserved funds to be disbursed if Hong Kong-based Star Point failed to raise the Rp 6 billion the federation needed to finance the league.

The league's fifth season since the reinstatement of foreign players in 1994 starts on Nov. 1. A charity match pitting former champion Persebaya of Surabaya against Persib Bandung at Senayan Stadium will raise the curtain for the league on Sunday.

If things go as planned the league will finish by March 21, 1999.

The federation has decided to allow the clubs to seek their own sponsors after Star Point failed to convince the soccer body that it could find the desperately needed sponsors in time.

"They (Star Point) last told us they were negotiating a deal with Mild Seven cigarette company as the league's major sponsor. But it will take time, while all the time the league is drawing nearer," Agum said.

Star Point has said the sponsorship deal could be signed in mid November.

All clubs have complained about financial shortages caused by the prolonged economic crisis, with some of them sending foreign players home.

Agum said the league would not adversely affect the forthcoming special session of the People's Consultative Assembly which is scheduled to take place from Nov. 10 to Nov. 13.

"We have estimated all possible consequences of allowing the league to go ahead in such an uncertain situation.

"If riots break out, we will find out how well the security authorities can handle them. I'm prepared to help them if necessary," said Agum, who is a lieutenant general and governor of the National Resilience Institute.

The federation stopped the last league prematurely in May due to security concerns.

"The league will serve as a test for Indonesian people, to see whether they are mature enough to separate sports from politics," Agum said. (yan)