Jakarta Casual
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Persita, Persipura and the Asian Champions League
This could be interesting. With Persipura challenging for both the Liga and the Copa along with Persita should both teams share Indonesia's major footballing honours both the AFC and the Indonesian FA would have a decision to make.
Persipura play on the island of Papua. So remote it takes some six hours flying time from Jakarta and goes right round the islands. You can be sure teams like Urawa and Shanghai won't be relishing that journey. Neither would teams closer to home like Chonburi or Bangkok University.
Would Persipura be forced to play their home games elsewhere I wonder should they qualify?
Persita would pose quite different problems. They play at the Benteng Stadium, in the flight path of the nearby international airport. Incoming players could clear immigration, collect their baggage and fight their way through the back streets of Tangerang and be at the stadium within a couple of hours of landing. Thing is, the stadium, which they share with Persikota, is shit and is probably not up to AFC standards. Hell, it ain't even up to Liga Super standards.
Decisions, decisions. Knowing the FA they'll probably take the path of least possible resistance and do nothing. It worked in 2006 when no Indonesian teams, then Arema and Persipura, played in the Champions League 'cos no one sent off their registration forms.
Persipura play on the island of Papua. So remote it takes some six hours flying time from Jakarta and goes right round the islands. You can be sure teams like Urawa and Shanghai won't be relishing that journey. Neither would teams closer to home like Chonburi or Bangkok University.
Would Persipura be forced to play their home games elsewhere I wonder should they qualify?
Persita would pose quite different problems. They play at the Benteng Stadium, in the flight path of the nearby international airport. Incoming players could clear immigration, collect their baggage and fight their way through the back streets of Tangerang and be at the stadium within a couple of hours of landing. Thing is, the stadium, which they share with Persikota, is shit and is probably not up to AFC standards. Hell, it ain't even up to Liga Super standards.
Decisions, decisions. Knowing the FA they'll probably take the path of least possible resistance and do nothing. It worked in 2006 when no Indonesian teams, then Arema and Persipura, played in the Champions League 'cos no one sent off their registration forms.
Labels: Asian Champions League Persita Persipura
