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The men's competition was also to play eight clubs, but the Bandung-based City Land Transportation Agency (DLLAJ) has withdrawn, citing technical reasons.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)