Three countries join Independence Cup

JAKARTA (JP): Three foreign countries -- China Taipei, Myanmar and Iraq -- have confirmed their participation in the 2000 Independence Cup soccer tournament from Aug. 28 to Sept. 3 at Senayan Stadium here.

Indonesia will field 23 national players to compete in the Cup, which will also serve as a warm-up tournament for the Asian Cup in Lebanon from Oct. 12 to Oct. 29. The foreign players will arrive at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Saturday.

Tickets are being sold for between Rp 10,000 (US$1.20) and Rp 60,000. It is unknown whether the event will receive national media coverage as the end to a boycott by local soccer journalists is still hanging in the air. (ivy)