Jakarta (ANTARA News) - National Sports Committee (KONI) chairman Tono Suratman said it is not easy to organize the on-going soccer competition after the handover of the Indonesia Super League (ISL) tournament management to KONI and KOI.

Tono made the remarks here on Monday after receiving the new general chairman of the All-Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) La Nyalla Mattalitti and two Executive Committee members Djamal Aziz Tony Aprilani.

For example, if KONI is asked to prepare the match instruments, obviously it is not the job of KONI, Tono stated.

"It is definitely the role of PSSI so I just facilitate if it is requested by the PSSI," he pointed out.

According to Tono, his side was ready to facilitate what are demanded in the competition (ISL).

Previously PSSI successfully elected its new executive board of management through an extraordinary congress in Surabaya on Friday (April 18), although the Youth and Sports Minister has temporarily suspended the management of the Football Association.

PSSI held its extraordinary congress (KLB) in the East Java provincial capital of Surabaya on Saturday, April 18, 2015 after Youth and Sports Affairs Minister Imam Nachrowi imposed the sanction (temporary suspension) on the countrys soccer association.

The PSSI, however, failed to respond to the letters of warning that led to the minister imposing the sanction prior to the congress.

The temporary suspension imposed by the sports minister on PSSI occurred after the Indonesian Professional Sports Agency (BOPI) did not allow two problematic soccer clubs Persebaya Surabaya and Arema Indonesia to participate in the Indonesia Super League (ISL) tournament.

Previously, BOPI only allowed 16 of the 18 soccer clubs that were verified to participate in the Indonesia Super League (ISL) that kicked off on April 4.

On Wednesday, April 1, Chairman of the BOPI Noor Aman told the press at the Youth and Sports Affairs Ministry in Jakarta that the 18 clubs had been grouped into categories A, B and C.

The five clubs in category A that met the requirements include Semen Padang FC, Sriwijaya FC, Persib Bandung, Persija Jakarta, and Persipura Jayapura.

The 11 clubs named in category B, which were recommended with some notes, are Bali United, Barito Putera, Persiram Raja Ampat, Pusamania Borneo FC, PSM Makassar, Persiba Balikpapan, Mitra Kukar, Persela Lamongan, Perseru Serui, Pelita Bandung Raya, and Gresik United.

Furthermore, the two clubs of Arema Indonesia and Persebaya Surabaya grouped in category C were not recommended by the BOPI because they did not meet the legal requirements of the tournament due to dual ownership.

Last year, the ISL officially kicked off on February 1, after PT Liga Indonesia released the teams schedules.

A total of 22 football clubs had participated in the tournament in 2013 and 2014. They had been divided into the western and eastern groups.

Group 1 had comprised Arema Indonesia, Persib, Persija, Pelita, Bandung Raya, Gresik United, Semen Padang, Persita, Sriwijaya FC, Persijap, Persik, and Barito Putera.

Group 2 included Persebaya, Persipura, Putra Samarinda, Persiram, Mitra Kukar, Persela, Persepam MU, Perseru, Persiba Balikpapan, Persiba Bantul, and PSM Makassar.

Reported by Nur Gafar
(B003/A014)

Editor: Jafar M Sidik
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