(UDHAYAM, COLOMBO) – China may have the most star-studded league in Asia but Indonesia is another sleeping giant that is starting to import some internationally famous players in a bid to raise standards at home and profile overseas.
Former English Premier League stars Michael Essien, Didier Zokora, Carlton Cole and Peter Odemwingie are closer to the end of their careers than the imports in China but their arrival could make a difference.
After years of corruption scandals, political infighting, crowd violence and international bans, the players are helping Indonesian soccer make positive overseas headlines for the first time in years.
“Their arrival is a good thing because they can help the Indonesia football league profile overseas,” Jacksen Tiago, former head coach of the Indonesia national team and now in charge of league side PS Barito Putera, told Associated Press. “We have more coverage from international media and more quality players will be looking for a chance to come over here in future.”
That has an effect at home too, said the Brazilian. “Now television, papers and fans are more excited about football and people are really happy with those big names around the country. They feel really proud to have international players here and local players can learn from them.”
Like China, Indonesia has long been regarded as one of the world’s great underachievers given its undoubted passion for the sport and league games that regularly attract more than 20,000 fans.
Courtesy: The Washington Times
