Volleyball league starts in Bandung
Volleyball league starts in Bandung
JAKARTA (JP): The 2001 Indonesian Volleyball League will start
in Bandung, West Java, next month, with the organizing committee
dispelling fears that the national team's failure at the recently
concluded Kuala Lumpur 2001 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games will
undermine people's interest in the sport.
The league will feature seven teams in the men's category and
eight teams in the women's. The participating clubs are members
of the premier league. Two of them in each category are the newly
promoted members from the first divisions.
The men's competition was also to play eight clubs, but the
Bandung-based City Land Transportation Agency (DLLAJ) has
withdrawn, citing technical reasons. The first division's third-
placed club, PTPN, should have taken up the slot. It has passed
it over, citing a lack of preparation.
The Bandung leg, which will be held from Oct. 8 until Oct. 14,
will be followed by the second leg in Yogyakarta, scheduled from
Nov. 7 until Nov. 11.
The top four teams in each category will qualify for the
final-four contest in Jakarta next January, with the dates yet to
be announced. The 2001 league offers a total of Rp 96 million
(US$10,100) in cash prizes.
"We are well-prepared for the tournament. Security issues have
also been our concern and we have taken contingency measures
about that," Makmur, the chairman of the Bandung organizing
committee, told a news conference here on Wednesday.
The committee will use the Padjadjaran and Tri Lomba Juang
Sports Halls as venues.
Meanwhile, Hanny Surkatty of the Indonesian Volleyball
Association (PBVSI) played down worries over the probably
dwindling appreciation in the part of the volleyball enthusiasts
following the national volleyball team's dismal run -- both in
the men's and women's competition -- at the Kuala Lumpur SEA
Games, in which they finished outside the top three positions.
"While that has become our concern these days, the failure
should not affect people's enthusiasm for volleyball, because the
game has been an attraction for years," said Hanny, who is the
tournament's director.
He also revealed a plan to run a pro-league with the aim to
lay a strong foundation for the formation of a national team in
the future.
The league comprises the same number of participants, which
will carry out home and away matches. It will incorporate a total
of 56 matches in four months.
"There will be a match every week. We have yet to negotiate
with a private TV station over the broadcast contract," Hanny
said.
The 2001 Indonesian Volleyball League participants are
Samator, Yuso, Perhutani, Bank BNI, DPPK, Mabes TNI and Sparta in
the men's division and Bank BNI, Petrokimia, Perhutani, Popsivo,
PLN, Mabes TNI, Damri and TOVO in the women's division. (01)