Persija to get Rp 1.5t stadium

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Jakarta | Tue, October 23 2012, 4:13 PM

The Jakarta administration plans to build a soccer stadium worth Rp 1.5 trillion (US$156 million) for Jakarta soccer club Persija.

Jakarta Governor Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said it was necessary for the city and the club to have a home stadium.

“How come a city has a club but not a stadium?” he said at his office on Tuesday as quoted by tempo.co.

He compared the case to Spanish soccer club Real Madrid, which has its own stadium, Santiago Bernabeu, and Barcelona FC with its Camp Nou.

However, Jokowi did not elaborate on the plan.

Jakarta Deputy Governor Basuki Tjahja Purnama supported Jokowi’s plan, adding that he wanted the club to have its own home base.

“We’ll further discuss the location,” he said. (swd)