Thursday, October 01, 2009
It's an Indonesian thing
The Community Shield kicks off the new Indonesian Super League next Wednesday and I had hoped to catch the game between champions Persipura and Copa winners Sriwijaya at the Bung Karno Stadium here in Jakarta.
However I hadn't been holding my breath. Games are announced then postponed at the drop of a hat in these parts and I had special reason to doubt the season's opener would be taking place in the capital city.
There hasn't been a competitive football match in Jakarta since Persitara were defeated by Persiba back in February. The reason? The general elections.
The first election was in April, the Presidential in July and the run off, if needed, was to be this month. Now October sees the inaugaration and the police, in their infinite wisdom, have decreed that no football matches can take place until after the swearing in.
So this here football match will take place in Makassar.
Funnily enough Makassar will also be where champions Persipura will play their first few home games while their own ground in Jayapura gets brought up to ACL standards.
Still, at least no one in yellow shirts has closed the airport here. Yet.
However I hadn't been holding my breath. Games are announced then postponed at the drop of a hat in these parts and I had special reason to doubt the season's opener would be taking place in the capital city.
There hasn't been a competitive football match in Jakarta since Persitara were defeated by Persiba back in February. The reason? The general elections.
The first election was in April, the Presidential in July and the run off, if needed, was to be this month. Now October sees the inaugaration and the police, in their infinite wisdom, have decreed that no football matches can take place until after the swearing in.
So this here football match will take place in Makassar.
Funnily enough Makassar will also be where champions Persipura will play their first few home games while their own ground in Jayapura gets brought up to ACL standards.
Still, at least no one in yellow shirts has closed the airport here. Yet.
# posted by Me @ 6:34 PM 
