Friday, August 01, 2008
Football is Dying in Indonesia's Capital
Persija's second consecutive home game in five days has been cancelled after local plod refused to give the game the go ahead. The ISL gave the stadium, Bung Karno, the go ahead. The Sports Minister said ok.
Before the season started Persija offered for sale season tickets aimed at a new, wealthier, breed of fan and hundreds were snapped up. Now? Who knows what the people who bought the tickets think.
Jakarta's second club, Persitara, played their first 'home' games far, far away in a mystical land of fairies and goblins. Well, Soreang. They too played before no fans and now they're probably somewhere in Papua waiting for their game against Persipura and praying they can get a flight back home.
With no games to be played everyone engages in that favourite pastime beloved of officials. CYA. No matter what happens, it ain't your fault.
A Jakarta police chief made some sense, yeah it ain't often I say that about any copper, when he said fans in Indonesia must learn to grow up and accept defeat. He's right. Fans can be puerile and ignorant but they just need educating and that's down to the supporters clubs who do their bit but more needs to be done to stop the procession of empty water bottles that get chucked pitchside whenever a decision goes the wrong way.
Caught in the middle of this nonsense are the players who just wanna kick a ball around. Wages can be deferred, that's normal, but at least let these guys do what they love.
On many levels the game in this country needs to mature. It's already a laughing stock and the image ain't getting any better. Be ready for some more fun and games next week.
Why?
'Cos PSMS are scheduled to play Persija! Regular readers may remember PSMS hail from North Sumatra, a 2 hour flight away but they have thus far played both their home games in Bung Karno.
They are now looking around for a new stadium and two options suggested have been Surabaya and Banda Aceh!
Meanwhile Persija could go into their third away game, unbeaten and without any fans. An away game played at their home stadium they can't use?
This story has legs but I'm losing interest.
Before the season started Persija offered for sale season tickets aimed at a new, wealthier, breed of fan and hundreds were snapped up. Now? Who knows what the people who bought the tickets think.
Jakarta's second club, Persitara, played their first 'home' games far, far away in a mystical land of fairies and goblins. Well, Soreang. They too played before no fans and now they're probably somewhere in Papua waiting for their game against Persipura and praying they can get a flight back home.
With no games to be played everyone engages in that favourite pastime beloved of officials. CYA. No matter what happens, it ain't your fault.
A Jakarta police chief made some sense, yeah it ain't often I say that about any copper, when he said fans in Indonesia must learn to grow up and accept defeat. He's right. Fans can be puerile and ignorant but they just need educating and that's down to the supporters clubs who do their bit but more needs to be done to stop the procession of empty water bottles that get chucked pitchside whenever a decision goes the wrong way.
Caught in the middle of this nonsense are the players who just wanna kick a ball around. Wages can be deferred, that's normal, but at least let these guys do what they love.
On many levels the game in this country needs to mature. It's already a laughing stock and the image ain't getting any better. Be ready for some more fun and games next week.
Why?
'Cos PSMS are scheduled to play Persija! Regular readers may remember PSMS hail from North Sumatra, a 2 hour flight away but they have thus far played both their home games in Bung Karno.
They are now looking around for a new stadium and two options suggested have been Surabaya and Banda Aceh!
Meanwhile Persija could go into their third away game, unbeaten and without any fans. An away game played at their home stadium they can't use?
This story has legs but I'm losing interest.
# posted by Me @ 4:56 PM 
