TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian football top flight Liga 1 will kick off on April 15, 2017.

“We expect [the league to kick off] on April 15, 2017, but we will announce the definite date later,” the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) secretary general Ade Wellington told Tempo in a phone interview on Monday, March 13.

According to Ade, PSSI officials continue to finalize the competition format for Liga 1. Ade expects the finalization process to complete and be announced on March 16.

Ade, however, declined to reveal Liga 1 operator to be appointed by PSSI. He also declined to elaborate the rules for Liga 1 season 2017. Based on PSSI Annual Congress held in Bandung on January 8, the federation plans to impose four new rules.

Firstly, 18 clubs to compete in Indonesian top flight are only allowed to have 3 foreign players, one of whom has to be from Asia. The foreign players must not be over 35-year-old.

Secondly, only two players over the age of 35 are allowed in each club.

Thirdly, each club must sign at least five players under the age 23, three of whom must play in every match. Lastly, PSSI requires clubs to have U-21 and U-19 teams as part of the young player development program.

Safe to say that Liga 1 clubs would face difficulty in meeting the requirements set in the new rules because many are currently using players over the age of 35, particularly foreign players. Naturalized striker Cristian Gonzales, for example, is now 40 years of age.

Persib Bandung coach Djadjang Nudjaman understands that the new rules are aimed at helping the development of young footballers in Indonesia. He said that he has seen the results of the PSSI plans.

He pointed to three Persib Bandung youngsters who shone at the President Cup 2017: Febri Haryadi, Gian Zola, and Henhen Herdiana. They have been called up to the U-22 national team.

“I hope going forward the official competition would not impose such regulations [the requirement to play three U-23 players in every game]. Because one player is enough, but if [teams have to play] three players based on the regulation, I think it would be quite difficult,” Djadjang said on Saturday.

INDRA WIJAYA