Teams want limit on foreign players

Teams want limit on foreign players

SEMARANG: Managers from Central Java-based PSIS Semarang and Persijap Jepara soccer teams support restricting the number of foreign players allowed to compete in the 2006 Indonesian League.

PSIS' Yoyok Sukawi and Persijap's Setiyono said separately on Monday that a maximum of three foreign players should be permitted to play on each team, down from the current five, to allow local players to develop their skills, Antara news service reported.

Yoyok said there were pluses and minuses to hiring foreign players. He said foreign players here lacked professionalism, and their skills were generally the same level of local players.

However, he said those hired by local teams were relatively "inexpensive".

Setiyono said the limit on the number would prevent wealthier clubs from stacking their ranks with foreign players, while also giving local players a chance to shine. -- JP