All Agree For New Liga 2

The fate of the League 2 Competition. (Photo: Twitter/@Liga2Match)

JAKARTA - There was a debate when PSSI under Mochammad Iriawan and PT Liga Indonesia Baru (LIB) stopped the Liga 2 competition. A number of clubs refused and hoped the competition would continue.

Mediation was also carried out involving the Minister of Youth and Sports (Menpora) Zainudin Amali. It was agreed that the fate of the 2022/2023 League 2 would be handed over to the new PSSI management.

After the 2023-2027 Executive Committee was elected, the fate of League 2 immediately became a topic of discussion. The general chairman of PSSI, Erick Thohir, held a Football Workshop which was attended by League 2 clubs in Surabaya, last weekend.

Erick Thohir said that the results of this workshop were a joint decision that accommodated the wishes of the entire club.

"In this workshop, we have to see something different, that this is the place for us to look for solutions. This is part of me keeping my promise. I want to listen and improve Indonesian football together," said Erick Thohir.

"I am grateful to the League 1 and 2 clubs who can see significant changes under our leadership, because they see us as friends in improving football," he continued.

During the workshop, it was agreed that the 2022/2023 League 2 competition would not be resumed. In this discussion, all focus is on improving the 2023/2024 season to 2024/2025/

"For League 2, it will start in November 2023 and will end in June 2024. To fill the void, until the November kick-off there will be a mini tournament," said Deputy Chairperson of PSSI Ratu Tisha.

A number of clubs also expressed their satisfaction with the agreed results. Persiba Balikpapan President, Gede Widiade, asked all parties to be optimistic.

"We, League 2, agreed to look ahead to preparations for the 2023/2024 season and agreed to start a new competition in November 2023/2024," said Gede.

Semen Padang also welcomed the agreement not to continue the 2022/2023 competition. The manager of Semen Padang Football Club (SPFC), Win Bernadino stated that this step was the right thing.

"This decision is not from PSSI, but this is the result of a meeting of League 2 clubs in a workshop conducted by League 2 clubs," he said in Padang, reported by Antara, Sunday, March 5.

"League 2 2022 has been running for four months and the obstacles are the fasting month, not to mention the U-20 World Cup, when will League 2 be held again and when are the preparations," he continued.

PSIM Yogyakarta Liga 2 Club CEO Bima Sinung also gave his appreciation. He emphasized that the club no longer wants to look back on the continuation of League 2.

"However, we will see the future, namely League 2 season 2023/2024. There is indeed a bit of concern with the long time lag, but it has been announced that there will be a pre-season tournament that will bridge the long gap. I see it very positively," he said .