B

andung residents are ready to welcome President'€™s Cup champion Persib, which is expected to arrive from Jakarta on Tuesday.

'€œWe will greet them at the Pastuer toll gate. But we have yet to get confirmation from the mayor. We are ready for the victory parade,'€ Yana Umar, an official with Viking Persib Club, told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

Persib was crowned President'€™s Cup champion after defeating Palembang-based Sriwijaya FC 2-0 in the final at Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta on Sunday.

The team was received by President Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo at the State Palace on Monday.

It was back-to-back honors for the club after winning last year'€™s Indonesian Super League (ISL) trophy. The league has been abandoned in the wake of conflict between the Youth and Sports Ministry and Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI) over club eligibility. The conflict caused the suspension of PSSI by the ministry and an international ban from world soccer governing body FIFA, which considers the ministry'€™s move as government intervention in soccer affairs.

While promising to deal with the FIFA sanctions, Jokowi congratulated Persib for the success at the forum, which was also attended by other clubs'€™ representatives, according to Antara.

'€œI congratulate champion Persib, its manager Kang Jajang Nurjaman and best player Zulham Zamrun,'€ the President was quoted by Antara as saying.

Persib'€™s triumph appeared to conceal fan disappointment for not making it to Jakarta for the final despite having paid sums of money.

Dozens of Bobotoh, the nickname of Persib fans, filed reports with police against Heru Joko, the chairman of Viking Persib Club.

'€œThey disappeared after we had bought the tickets,'€ Anto Supriyanto, a Bobotoh representative, said at the police station.

He said he was among some 2,000 supporters who had paid Rp 250,000 (US$18.50) for tickets and transportation but failed to make it to Jakarta.

'€œWe were waiting at Gasibu [park] but never left. We are disappointed,'€ he said.

'€œWe hope the organizers show their goodwill,'€ Emon, another Bobotoh, said.

They threatened to bring the case to court if the organizers failed to deal with the issue by the designated deadline.

'€œWe want our money back,'€ Anto said.

The President'€™s Cup kicked off on Aug. 30 in Gianyar Bali, featuring 16 clubs split into four groups.

The President said that he was keen to augment the cash prizes next year. '€œI want the prizes doubled,'€ he said, adding that with the tournament winning public trust it would be easier to lure sponsors.

As the champion, Persib earned Rp 4.2 billion while runner-up Sriwijaya FC Rp 3.2 billion.