The evaluation is necessary to overcome any weaknesses."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesias eastern-most province of Papua hosted the initial match of the Indonesia Soccer Championship, better known as Torabika Soccer Championship 2016, in which 18 clubs are participating.
The first match between Persipura Jayapura of Papua and Persija Jakarta took place at the Papua provincial citys stadium of Mandala Jayapura on Friday night (April 29). It was officially opened by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).
In addition to musical performances, Papuas native dances featuring hundreds of dancers were a highlight of the opening event, attended also by the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) Commander General Gatot Nurmantyo, the National Police chief General Badrodin Haiti and Youth and Sports affairs Minister Imam Nahrawi.
Previously, various soccer tournaments took off at different stadiums in Java and Bali.
General Gatot Nurmantyo said the Torabika Soccer Championship will continue till December 2016.
Organized by PT Gelora Trisula Semesta (GTS), the championship offers a cash prize of Rp3 billion.
The participating clubs are Arema Cronus FC, Bali United, PS Barito Putera, Bhayangkara Surabaya United, Madura United, Mitra Kukar FC, Persegres Gresik, Persela Lamongan, Persib Bandung, Persija Jakarta, Perseru Serui, Persipura Jayapura, Persiba Balikpapan, PS TNI, PSM Makassar, Pusamania Borneo FC, Semen Padang FC and Sriwijaya FC.
On the first day, Persipura Jayapura of Papua played against Persija Jakarta in Jayapura, and Semen Padang FC played against PSM Makassar in H Agus Salim stadium in Padang. The rest of the schedule is as follows:
On Saturday, April 30, Persela Lamongan versus Persegres Gresik and Persib Bandung vs Sriwijaya FC.
On Sunday, May 1, Bali United vs Pusama Borneo FC, and Arema Cronus vs Persiba Balikpapan.
On Friday, May 6, Persiba Balikpapan vs Sriwijaya FC, and Madura United vs Arema Cronus.
On Saturday, May 7, PSM Makassar vs Persela Lamongan, and Pusama Borneo vs Persib Bandung.
On Sunday, May 8, Persipura Jayapura vs Bali United, and Persija Jakarta vs Semen Padang.
On Friday, May 13, Pusama Borneo FC vs Persiba Balikpapan, and Persija Jakarta vs Persela Lamongan.
On Saturday, May 14, Semen Padang vs Persipura Jayapura, and Persib Bandung vs Bali United.
On Sunday, May 15, Sriwijaya FC vs Madura United, and Arema Cronus vs Bhayangkara Surabaya United.
On Friday May 20, Mitra Kukar ve Arema Cronus, and Madura United vs Pusamania Borneo.
On Saturday, May 21, Bali United vs Semen Padang, and Persiba Balikpapan vs Persib Bandung.
On Sunday, May 22, Bhayangkara Surabaya United vs Sriwijaya FC, and Perseru Serui vs Persija Jakarta.
On Friday, May 27, Pusamania Borneo vs Bhayangkara Surabaya United, and Arema Cronus vs Persegres Gresik.
On Saturday, May 28, Semen Padang vs Persela Lamongan, and Persib Bandung vs Madura United.
On Sunday, May 29, Sriwijaya FC vs Mitra Kukar, and Barito Putera vs Persija Jakarta.
In Fridays match, Persija Jakarta and host Persipura Jayapura of Papua Province drew 1-1.
Ade Jantra of Persija scored the single goal for his team in the 12th minute, while the goal for Papua was scored by James Koko Lomel in the 18th minute through a penalty stroke.
Apart from that, coach of Semen Padang FC Nil Maizar will evaluate the performance of his players after they defeated PSM Makassar 2-1 in the Torabika Soccer Championship which took place in H Agus Salim stadium.
"The evaluation is necessary to overcome any weaknesses," the coach pointed out.
According to Maizar, the many yellow cards received by his players was an issue that must be evaluated soon.
From the first month of the eight-month long competition, organizer PT Gelora Trisula Semesta (GTS) is expected to work professionally in conducting a total of 306 matches.
The Torabika Soccer Championship 2016 is being held after the General Sudirman cup tournament came to a close on January 24, 2016.
As many as 15 soccer clubs participated in the soccer event which was initiated by the Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander.
The soccer tournament is organized to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Indonesian military.
The Mahaka Sports and Entertainment, which organized the General Sudirman cup, offered a cash prize of Rp2.5 billion for the champion, and Rp1.5 billion for the second winner, while each of the semi-finalists received a cash prize of Rp500 million.
In the General Sudirman cup, Mitra Kukar soccer club emerged as champion by defeating Semen Padang FC team 2-1 in the final match which was held at Bung Karno Stadium on January 24.
The Mitra Kukar team of East Kalimantan grabbed a cash prize of Rp2.5 billion in the tournament, better known as the Indonesian Torabika Championship 2015. Meanwhile, Semen Padang team got Rp1.5 billion as the runner-up.
In addition to the General Sudirman cup, the Bhayangkara Cup tournament was opened by President Jokowi at the Si Jalak Harupat Soreang stadium in Bandung District on March 17, which saw the participation of Arema Cronus, Bali United, Mitra Kukar, and Persib Bandung, in addition to Persija Jakarta, Persipura Jayapura, PS Polri, and PS TNI. The other clubs were Pusamania Borneo FC and Sriwijaya FC.
The Bhayangkara Cup 2016 concluded on April 3, 2016, with the final at the Bung Karno main sports stadium in Jakarta.
(T.B003/INE/KR-BSR/A014)
Reporter: Bustanuddin
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
