Wednesday, August 05, 2009
One investor, two clubs
Edy Joernadi has been busy recently. He was announced as the man whose funds will release Persija Jakarta from going cap in hand to the local government every time they need to pay wages. Finally, thinks me, someone looking at the business opportunites in Indonesian football.
Then comes the news he has also bought Persikad Depok, a team in the second tier Premier League with little in the way of footballing tradition. The town/city/suburb of Depok lies to the south of Jakarta on the way to Bogor and boasts a small stadium which I have never seen.
Following the news of Joernadi's investment local papers delighted their readers with unlikely tales of players like Bambang Pamungkas, Aliyudin and Ismed Sofyan leaving the glamour of Persija for more humble surroundings.
If Persija are Chelsea, cosmopolitan, Persitara are Millwall then Persikad would be someone like Gillingham. A place frequently overlooked, a place that features prominently on traffic signs but rarely as a destination.
Persija's future is unsure even as clubs like Sriwijaya have begun light training. There has been talk of Persikad reaching the ISL and if that happens, and if Joernadi still runs Persija, he will have to shed one of the clubs as ISL rules prevent one owner having more than one club.
More frustration ahead for Persija's fans as they can only look on impotently while their rivals start planning next season.
Then comes the news he has also bought Persikad Depok, a team in the second tier Premier League with little in the way of footballing tradition. The town/city/suburb of Depok lies to the south of Jakarta on the way to Bogor and boasts a small stadium which I have never seen.
Following the news of Joernadi's investment local papers delighted their readers with unlikely tales of players like Bambang Pamungkas, Aliyudin and Ismed Sofyan leaving the glamour of Persija for more humble surroundings.
If Persija are Chelsea, cosmopolitan, Persitara are Millwall then Persikad would be someone like Gillingham. A place frequently overlooked, a place that features prominently on traffic signs but rarely as a destination.
Persija's future is unsure even as clubs like Sriwijaya have begun light training. There has been talk of Persikad reaching the ISL and if that happens, and if Joernadi still runs Persija, he will have to shed one of the clubs as ISL rules prevent one owner having more than one club.
More frustration ahead for Persija's fans as they can only look on impotently while their rivals start planning next season.
# posted by Me @ 10:47 AM 
