Persija Still Thinking About Making JIS A Headquarter Even Though They Have Received Anies' Green Light

Governor of DKI Jakarta, Anies Baswedan. (Photo: Special)

JAKARTA - DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has given the green light to Persija football club to make the Jakarta International Stadium (JIS) their headquarters.

Anies made this statement while attending an exhibition match that brought together Persija legends titled the Jakarta Silaturahmi Trofeo at the Jakarta International Stadium (JIS), on Saturday, May 7 evening.

"Today is an important day, because today the promise was paid off. The promise to build an international standard stadium that will be used as a home base for Persija and also a home base for The Jak, where we all feel for years of waiting in patience," said Anies.

"Alhamdulillah, today starts even in a pandemic atmosphere, so the capacity that can be used is still limited," Anies continued.

However, Persija Jakarta has not yet decided which stadium will be their headquarters for Liga 1 2022/2023. The president of the Persija Jakarta Club, Mohamad Prapanca, admitted that JIS could be the home of his team. However, it is not certain.

"We are finalizing the contract with PT Jakarta Propertindo (Jakpro). This is a business-to-business (B2B) affair, so it has nothing to do with the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government as the owner of Jakpro," said Prapanca.

According to Prapanca, one of the things that Persija and Jakpro are still discussing is the price. The management of Macan Kemayoran assessed that the financing for using JIS should not harm either party.

"For example, if it's expensive, it's because it has to cover Jakpro's return on investment, which will have to be sacrificed by The Jakmania (Persija supporters). We don't want that," said Prapanca.

"We have to reach a certain price that benefits all parties. That's what we are negotiating," he added.

In addition, he continued, Persija as a football team has a standard for a home stadium. For this matter, the JIS which was only used in April 2022 has not been verified by PSSI or PT Liga Indonesia Baru (LIB).

The examination is very vital because Persija is a professional club licensed by the AFC. "If based on the verification that JIS meets the requirements as a home base, then JIS is ready to become Persija's cage," said Prapanca.

Should Persija and Jakpro talks stagnate, Prapanca emphasized that his party would propose the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium (SUGBK), Jakarta, or Patriot Candrabhaga Stadium, Bekasi, as Persija's home options for the 2022-2023 season.