Completes 2022 Pre-Season Tournament Draw, LIB Appoints Samarinda As One Of The Hosts: Simultaneously Campaigns IKN

JAKARTA - Competition operator PT Liga Indonesia Baru (LIB) completed the draw for the 2022 Pre-season Tournament in Bandung, Sunday, with 18 participating clubs from the 2022-2023 Indonesian League 1 divided into four groups.

As seen from the LIB Youtube channel as quoted by Antara, Sunday 29 May, Group C became the most interesting group because it was filled with teams that were ranked in the top five of the 2021-2022 Indonesian League 1, namely Bali United, Persib, Bhayangkara FC and Persebaya.

Group C will later take place in Bandung, West Java, because Persib was appointed as the host. The appointment of the host was made by PSSI and LIB, including for the other three groups.

While the defending champions of the pre-season tournament, Persija, are in Group B with Barito Putera, Rans Cilegon FC, Madura United and hosts Borneo FC. All of these group matches will take place in Samarinda.

PSSI-LIB agreed to use the moment of the soccer match in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, to campaign for the Capital of the Archipelago (IKN).

Then Group A, whose match will take place in Solo, is inhabited by Persis as the host, PSIS, Martapura Dewa United, Persita and PSS.

Then, finally, there are four teams competing in Group D, namely Arema FC, Tira Persikabo, PSM and Persik. Here, Arema FC is the host so that Group D matches will be concluded in Malang.

Director of Operations of PT LIB Sudjarno said, there were several restrictions made in the draw for the 2022 pre-season tournament.

One of them is Bali United and PSM can only occupy a group of four teams because they have to compete in the 2022 AFC Cup.

In addition, Persija and Persebaya may not be in the same preliminary group with certain considerations.

Not to forget, Sudjarno also ensured that the 2022 Pre-season Tournament, which did not yet have an official championship name, was open for spectators to attend directly at the stadium.

"This pre-season tournament will be an example of football with spectators in the stadium (during the COVID-19 pandemic). However, the number of spectators in the stadium will depend on the PPKM situation in the local area," said Sudjarno.

PSSI and LIB have not confirmed the detailed schedule of the 2022 Pre-season Tournament. However, the competition is planned to be rolled out in mid-June-mid-July 2022.