President Jokowi to Open National Football League End of April
14 April 2016 11:52 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian football competition which is supported by Youth and Sports Ministry is planned to commence at the end of April. President Joko Widodo is scheduled to open the competition in person.
“The league will commence end of April. We will ask the president to open it,” said Youth and Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi on the sidelines of the declaration of construction of a thousand football fields in Sukaluyu Village, Taman Sari, Bogor, West Java, Tuesday.
Having said that, the Minister has yet to unveil the name of the competition which is expected to mark the return of Indonesian football competition after long absence and a handful of tournaments.
Based on the schedule, the competition to commence at the end of the month—on April 29, to be exact—is Indonesian Soccer Championship (ISC) 2016 which is initiated by PT Gelora Trisula Semesta (GTS). The competition will be participated by clubs who had previously competed in Indonesia Super League (ISL).
The man who is also known as Cak Imam expressed that football competition must start soon. However, he hoped that Indonesian people could keep their patience as the government is doing its best.
“Don’t worry. The government will not ruin national football, instead we want to improve it to be better,” said the minister who was born in Bangkalan, Madura.
Meanwhile, Deputy IV of Sports Achievement Division of Youth and Sports Ministry, Gatot S Dewa Broto has confirmed the government’s support for the competition to be commenced end of April. However, he also declined to disclose the name the competition.
“ISC? Could be. We are still waiting for the Minister’s decision,” he said.
According to Gatot, the ministry is planned to meet PT GTS as league operator. The meeting is scheduled to be held at the premise of Youth and Sports Ministry, Thursday, April 14, 2016.
ANTARA
