Jakarta as nominated for AFC U-22 Asian Cup qualifying round

Jakarta as nominated for AFC U-22 Asian Cup qualifying round

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The All-Indonesia Football Association (PSSI) has proposed Jakarta as the host of the AFC U-22 Asian Cup qualifying round scheduled for mid-June.

PSSI Chairman Djohar Arifin Husin said on Friday the decision to nominate Jakarta as the host of the qualifying round was a reply to the AFC`s offer.

"Shortly after the AFC has offered us to host the event we discussed and replied the offer to inform the AFC that Indonesia is ready," he said.

The offer was based on a number of things that the qualifying round did not need many soccer fields such as in the finals, he said.

To hold the finals, the host must have at least two soccer fields of international standard and three soccer fields for exercise, he said.

Jakarta had a little chance of hosting the finals due to a lack of supporting soccer fields, he said.

"The qualifying round only has two matches. So we have no problem. Right now we are waiting for technical directives from the AFC," he said.

The AFC U-22 Asian Cup will for the first time be held in 2013 and its qualification matches in 2012. The tournament will bring together 41 Asian countries divided into seven groups. Indonesia is in Group E, along with Japan, Australia, Singapore, Timor Leste and Macau.

Earlier, PSSI also nominated Pekanbaru as the host of the qualifying round. The capital of Riau province which will host the 2012 National Sport Week (PON) has three stadiums of international standard.

(S012)

Editor: Suryanto
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