Five Clubs To Host President Cup 2017: PSSI

JAKARTA, Feb 1 (Antara) - Five soccer clubs are ready to host the President Cup 2017 tournament, which will be participated by 20 soccer teams, according to the All-Indonesia Football Association (PSSI). "All (clubs) are ready, including stadiums and hotels. The opening ceremony in Sleman, where PSSI will take over the event, will be attended by President Joko Widodo," Iwan Budianto, the organizing committee chairman of the President Cup, said here on Tuesday. The five stadiums are Maguwoharjo in Sleman (Yogyakarta), Kanjuruhan in Malang (East Java), Jalak Harupat in Bandung (West Java), Kapten I Wayan Dipta in Bali, and Gelora Bangkalan in Madura (East Java). The opening ceremony will be held in the Maguwoharjo stadium on Saturday (Feb 4), and the closing ceremony will take place in the Pakansari stadium in Cibinong, Bogor District, on Sunday (March 12). A total of 20 clubs divided into five groups will take part in the tournament. Clubs in group 1 that will play in Maguwoharjo stadium, Sleman, are PSS Sleman as the host, and Mitra Kukar, Persegres Gresik and Persipura Jayapura. Clubs in group 2 that will play in Kanjuruhan, Malang, are Arema FC, Bhayangkara FC, Persija Jakarta and PS TNI. Clubs in group 3 that will play in Jalak Harupat stadium, Bandung, are Persib Bandung, PSM Makassar, Persiba Balikpapan and Persela Lamongan. Clubs in group 4 that will play in the Kapten I Wayan Dipta, Bali, are Bali United, Sriwijaya FC, Pusamania Borneo and Barito Putra. Clubs in group 5 that will play in the Gelora Bangkalan stadium, Madura, are Madura United, Semen Padang, Perseru Serui and PSCS Cilacap. Iwan added that each host club will receive Rp800 million, which will be used to serve other soccer clubs. "Additionally, each participating team will also receive transportation allowance worth Rp100 million, except two teams from the most-eastern province of Papua, namely Persipura and Perseru Serui, which will receive more allowance due to the distant location. Clubs that win the first prize will receive Rp3 billion. The second prize will be Rp2 billion, the third prize will be Rp1 billion and the fourth prize will be Rp500 million, he added. u.