Winner qualifies for AVC C'ship
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The 2003 season of the National Professional Indoor Volleyball League, or Proliga, will kick off its three-month season in April, the Indonesian Volleyball Association (PBVSI) announced on Tuesday.
Rita Subowo, PBVSI chairwoman, said the Proliga winner in the men's division would represent Indonesia at the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) championship, a men's club event that will be held in Jakarta from May 18 through May 24.
"The AVC tournament will feature club champions from their respective countries," she said.
Hanny Surkatty, the PBVSI official in charge of competition, said the 2003 Proliga season would feature the same number of teams as last year's inaugural season: eight men's and eight women's teams.
"The only change is that two teams withdrew and will be replaced by new teams," Hanny said.
"Jakarta Patriot has decided only to take part in the men's competition. Its women's team will be replaced by a team from Bandung," said Hanny, adding that the new team, which is sponsored by a local bank, had yet to submit its final lineup to the association.
"On the men's side, Tunas Bogor will be replaced by Sparta Sidoarjo," he said.
Hanny did not release the names of the 16 teams taking part in the league, saying some teams that intended to change their names had yet to notify the association.
In a change from last season, when foreign players were signed and distributed among the different teams by PBVSI, it has been decided that this year the clubs are free to sign their own foreign imports.
"Last year we received many complaints from clubs that they received foreign players who were no better than locals. Now they are free to make their own choices," Hanny said, adding that the teams would be given US$500 to subsidize the monthly salaries of each foreign player.
The season will run from Feb. 8 to April 20, with games on Saturdays and Sundays in seven cities: Bandung and Bogor in West Java; Surabaya, Gresik and Sidoarjo in East Java; Yogyakarta and Jakarta.