Independence Cup Scheduled For August 2

Jakarta (Antara Bali) -- The transitional team that is set to take over the tasks of the suspended All-Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) will hold "Piala Kemerdekaan," the Independence Cup, on August 2, according to an official.

Secretary General of the Indonesian Professional Sports Agency (BOPI) Heru Nugroho said here on Saturday that his agency will immediately verify related documents of the transitional team, to organize the tournament.

As the event organizer, the team submitted documents regarding the tournament to BOPI on Friday, July 24, Nugroho stated, adding that it is offering a grand prize of Rp500 million.

He also pointed out that as many as 24 clubs will participate in the Independence Cup, which is scheduled to take place in six cities.

Events of Group A of the soccer tournament will be held in Teladan Stadium in the North Sumatra provincial city of Medan, while those of Group B will be held in Maulana Yusuf Stadium in Serang and in Cilegon Stadium, both in Banten province.

Group C games will be held in two sports stadiums in the Java Island, Manahan in Solo and Sultan Agung in Bantul.  
Events of Group D will take place in Wilis Stadium in the East Java city of Madiun.

Moreover, an official of the transitional team, Tommy Kurniawan, revealed that the implementation of the Independence Cup required some Rp25 billion in funding.

On April 17, the management of the PSSI was suspended by Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Imam Nahrawi.

On May 8, the minister had announced the names of the members of the transition team that would take over the rights and authority of the PSSI following its suspension.

Personnel of the transition team are as follows:
1. F. X. Hadi Rudyatmo; 2. Paulus; 3. Ridwan Kamil; 4. Eddy Rumpoko; 5. Ricky Yakobi; 6. Bibit Samad Rianto; 7. Darmin Nasution; 8. Ceppy T. Wartono; 9. Tommy Kurniawan; 10. Iwan Rukminto; 11. Francis Wanandi; 12. Saut H. Sirait; 13. Andrew Darwis; 14. Farid Husaini; 15. Zuhairi Misrawi; 16. Dias Faizal Malik Hendropriyono; 17. Velix F Wanggai. (WDY)