Thursday, January 03, 2008
When qualified doesn't mean qualified
Despite the season being over and despite knowing the 18 clubs that should make up the 2008 Liga Super things are not yet crystal clear in the corridors of Indonesian football.
The 18 clubs now need to be evaluated on a series of benchmarks to see whether they are 'fit' to enter the illustrious new era of the game here.
This of course will signal the start of obscene behind the scenes horse trading and who knows when we will know the final list. We can be sure that clubs like PSIS and Persis will be lobbying hard for admission given their stadium and off the field infrastructure while Persebaya will also want in. But at whose expense?
As I reported yesterday the Liga will kick off in July 2008 and end the following April. The Liga Indonesia and Copa Indonesia 2007 winners will be entered into the ACL 2009 draw this December - a rare case of Indonesia being ahead of schedule with something. Much of course there depends on whether the Nurdin Halid case is settled to the satisfaction of FIFA.
Liga Format 2008
Liga Super 18 clubs Begin July 08
Premier Division 2 divisions of 17 clubs Begin July 08
Division 1 6 groups of 8 clubs Begin March 08
Division 2 84 clubs in 16 groups Begin March 08
The 18 clubs now need to be evaluated on a series of benchmarks to see whether they are 'fit' to enter the illustrious new era of the game here.
This of course will signal the start of obscene behind the scenes horse trading and who knows when we will know the final list. We can be sure that clubs like PSIS and Persis will be lobbying hard for admission given their stadium and off the field infrastructure while Persebaya will also want in. But at whose expense?
As I reported yesterday the Liga will kick off in July 2008 and end the following April. The Liga Indonesia and Copa Indonesia 2007 winners will be entered into the ACL 2009 draw this December - a rare case of Indonesia being ahead of schedule with something. Much of course there depends on whether the Nurdin Halid case is settled to the satisfaction of FIFA.
Liga Format 2008
Liga Super 18 clubs Begin July 08
Premier Division 2 divisions of 17 clubs Begin July 08
Division 1 6 groups of 8 clubs Begin March 08
Division 2 84 clubs in 16 groups Begin March 08
# posted by Me @ 6:34 AM 
