Sponsor not linked to club withdrawal from Kobatama

JAKARTA (JP): Halim Kediri's sponsor has no hand in the club's withdrawal from the Indonesian Basketball League, according to league chairman Budi Rustanto.

"The East Javanese club withdrew simply because it won't hire import players as stipulated by the league's new ruling," Rustanto was quoted by Antara as saying in Surabaya yesterday.

The league -- its first round started yesterday in Surabaya -- is sponsored by cigarette giant Sampoerna. Halim is financed by Sampoerna's arch rival, Gudang Garam. Rumor has it that league financier Sampoerna pushed for the new ruling as a subtle way to expel Halim from the league.

Reiterating that Sampoerna, despite the money it provides, does not meddle in the league's affairs, Rustanto said he was sorry to see Halim fall victim to the new ruling.

"Halim is one of the most successful clubs in improving the quality of local players," Rustanto said.

The new ruling, which requires each club to employ two foreign players, was applied after the majority of the league's clubs agreed to it.

Rustanto said Halim was "not angered at the fact that the new ruling barred it from participating in the league. It understood that the new ruling was simply an effort to boost the performance of local players."

Rustanto said the ruling was final. He added, however, that the Indonesian Basketball Association respects Halim's insistence on using only local players and would set up "a special competition for the league's clubs which do not wish to hire foreign players."

Halim's place was filled by Glory Semarang, the club was relegated last year. Relegated Glory is the only team that supports the new ruling which is ready to replace Halim. (arf)