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Soccer stars stretch their muscles in President’s Cup
Welcome aboard: Persib Bandung’s new recruits, striker Oh In-kyun (right) of South Korea and midfielder Bojan Mališić (left) of Serbia, attend a press conference at Graha Persib in Bandung, West Java, on Jan
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span class="inline inline-center">Welcome aboard: Persib Bandung’s new recruits, striker Oh In-kyun (right) of South Korea and midfielder Bojan Mališić (left) of Serbia, attend a press conference at Graha Persib in Bandung, West Java, on Jan. 5. The two players are set to partake in the preseason President’s Cup soccer tournament from Jan. 16 to Feb. 17 and the 2018 season of Liga 1.(Antara/M Agung Rajasa)
Indonesian soccer is gearing up for the new season by presenting the President’s Cup, a one-month preseason tournament that will feature 15 top-flight clubs, three newly promoted teams in Liga 1 plus two clubs from Liga 2.
The tournament, which runs from Jan. 16 to Feb. 17, will kick off at Gelora Bandung Lautan Api Stadium in Bandung, West Java, presenting giants Persib Bandung and Sriwijaya FC. President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo is scheduled to attend the opening match.
The tournament will have about 40 matches until the final stage, which will be held at the refurbished Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Senayan, Jakarta.
The cup’s chief organizer, Berlinton Siahaan, said the matches, except for the final, are set to be staged in Bandung, Malang and Surabaya of East Java, as well as Gianyar of Bali and Balikpapan of East Kalimantan.
“We’ve carefully selected teams for each group based on several factors, such as host city status, the team’s performance in the 2017 season, geographical conditions as well as commercial aspects,” Berlinton said at a press conference in Jakarta on Friday.
Group A, which consists of Persib, Sriwijaya FC, PSM Makassar and PSMS, is set to have matches in Bandung. Group B, featuring Mitra Kukar, Persipura Jayapura, Martapura FC and Barito Putera, will have matches in Balikpapan.
Meanwhile, Persebaya Surabaya, Madura United, Perseru Serui and PS TNI were selected for Group C and are set to compete in Surabaya. Group D, which sees Persija Jakarta, PSPS Pekanbaru, Borneo FC and Bali United, will have matches in Gianyar.
Lastly, Group E of Arema FC, Bhayangkara FC, PSIS Semarang and Persela Lamongan will play in Malang.
Maruarar Sirait, chief of the steering committee for the tournament, said he hoped the cup would have a significant impact on many parties.
“For participating clubs, the tournament will provide benefits before returning to the regular season. However, I hope the public watching the cup will be entertained, and somehow, will boost the nation’s economy,” he said in a statement.
Echoing Maruarar, Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) chief Edy Rahmayadi said he hoped the cup would help the nation in developing its soccer culture. “I also expect the tournament will give a push to the sport in order to become an industry that helps drive the economy.”
Indosiar of EMTEK Group is the official broadcaster of the 2018 President’s Cup. Programming director Harsiwi Achmad said the free-to-air TV station would broadcast 33 matches, consisting of 23 group matches, four quarterfinals, four semifinals and two finals.
“The matches are also available on streaming services on bola.com and liputan6.com,” she said.
