Badung, Bali (Antara Bali) -- President Joko (Jokowi) Widodo will declare open the President Cup tournament, which will draw participation from 16 soccer clubs, at the "I Wayan Dipta" stadium in Gianyar, Bali on Sunday, an official stated.
"(We) have completed the preparation for the opening ceremony, as well as the clubs grouping," Mahaka Group President Commissioner, Erick Thohir, who will organize the tournament said on Saturday.
The President Cup is a professional soccer tournament aimed at resuming soccer as a competitive sport across the country after it was halted several months ago.
Thohir expressed hope that the tournament could emerge as a barometer for the professional football competition in all aspects so as to become an example and role model for the next football tournament.
According to him, as many as 16 soccer clubs will participate in the President Cup tournament starting Sunday, August 30, and will be divided into four groups.
"A total of 38 matches will be held during the tournament. Each day there will be two matches in the preliminary round, which will take place at 03.00 p.m. and 6.00 p.m.," Thohir explained, adding that the tournament will be broadcast nationwide by a private television station.
Starting from the quarter-finals to the semi-finals, the matches` format will be "home and away." Its final round will be conducted on October 18 at the Bung Karno Main Stadium in Jakarta.
Meanwhile, the coach of the Persita Tangerang soccer club, Bambang Nurdiansyah, said on Monday that soon after the opening ceremony, Bali United (the host) will face Persija Jakarta, followed by Persita Tangerang`s match against Mitra Kukar".
According to Nurdiansyah, the President Cup tournament will take place in four cities namely Bandung (group A), Malang (group B), Bali (group C) and Makassar (Group D).
Group A consists of Persib Bandung, Persebaya United, Persiba Balikpapan, and Martapura FC; and Group B comprises of Arema Cronos, PSGS Ciamis, Sriwijaya FC Palembang and Persela Lamongan.
Group C has teams Bali United, Persija Jakarta, Mitra Kukar and Persita Tangerang; while Group D has namely PSM Makassar, Pelita Bandung Raya, Peregres Gresik and Pusamania Borneo FC. (WDY)
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