Volleyball body to launch new league to boost teams

BOGOR, West Java (JP): In a bid to reach new levels in both Asia and internationally, the Indonesian Volleyball Association plans to establish a competitive league with the best teams from across the country.

An association executive, Doedi Gambiro, said the league would be played in a full season, pitting clubs which regularly competed in the national championships and the annual inter- company tournament, currently the country's most prestigious volleyball competitions currently.

"The two tournaments have failed to nurture a strong national team, particularly because their participants play just a few matches," Doedi said at a media get-together here over the weekend.

"Apart from intensifying promotion of the sport, the new league will provide players with more exposure in order to make them get used to demanding competitions."

The league, with divisions for both sexes, will start soon, Doedi said, but he did not disclose the schedule.

He said preparations for the league were underway, with the national volleyball body selecting deserving clubs nationwide based on performances in the PLN Cup in November last year.

Eight teams will qualify for the first divisions of both sexes, according to Doedi. Another eight teams will join the second division.

The teams will play round-robin matches, with the top four teams in the first division qualifying to vie for the championship trophy.

Doedi said the format for the final four competitions had yet to be decided.

The bottom four teams in the first division will be relegated, and they will be replaced by the top four teams from the second division.

"We will provide train tickets and accommodation subsidies for each club which is playing an away match," Doedi said. He did not elaborate on the cost of the subsidization to the national volleyball body, which is chaired by Siti Hardijanti Rukmana, the social services minister. (emf/amd)