Soccer Extreme : There will be no PKT Bontang in next season's Indonesian Super League. PT Pupuk Kaltim (PKT), a government-owned urea and ammonia manufacturing company in Bontang, East Kalimantan, has decided to stop funding the club and turn ownership over to the Bontang city government.
"It's not about financial issues. It's because the company's new rules forbid us to own a business other than our core business," Lastyo Winarso, a former club chairman and current PKT employee, said on the club Web site.! "PKT can no longer fund the club. If Bontang city doesn't want to run the club, then we will offer it to another district but still within East Kalimantan Province. Kutai Kartanegara district has voiced its interest in managing the club," Lastyo added.
After the announcement, Bontang Mayor Sofyan Hasdam held a meeting with the city's legislative council and decided to take over the club. "We decided to take over the club temporarily, and PKT officially handed over the club to us on Wednesday. For the time being, the city government will give financial support, but in the long term we want the club to be fully professional," Sofyan said in Jakarta on Thursday.
Now, the club's previous owner must report to the league administrator, PT Liga Indonesia, to re-register the club and declare the new name and management change. "We've received PKT Bontang's report and we will assess the legal aspect of the takeover right away," PT Liga Indonesia chi! ef executive Joko Driyono said.
As a start, the gov! ernment provided Rp 4 billion ($404,000) to the club and will add Rp 3 billion more next year. But it is a far cry from the Rp 23 billion club management said it would need for one season. "We will find sponsors to cover our budget. We just reached a sponsorship deal with apparel company Specs," Bontang FC manager Andi Faisal Hasdam said. "Specs will give us Rp 1.6 billion per season in the form of sports equipment."
The off-field uncertainty did little to dampen enthusiasm at the club, though, as it set itself the goal of a top five finish. Such a season would be a huge leap for a club which finished two places above the drop zone last season, and coach Fachri Husaini knows doing so will be no easy task.
Persija Jakarta midfielder Muhammad Ilham and PSM Makassar's Irsyad Aras are Bontang's main target, while the three foreigners signed up are Paraguayan striker Aldo Baretto, Togolese midfielder Ali Khadafi and George Clement Nyeck Nyobe of Cameroon. (thejakartaglobe)
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