Bandung Club Turns Down Offer of Cash From Fans

Persib's fans have offered to come to the club's rescue.


In response to its fans’ gesture of goodwill, Persib Bandung has said thanks but no thanks.

Members of the Vikings fan club, an organization of the West Java football team’s supporters, offered to shell out money from their own pockets to alleviate Persib’s budget woes.

Persib had considered withdrawing from the 2009-10 Super League season after the Bandung government decided to stop financing the team.

But Umuh Muhtar, Persib’s former manager who resigned in 2008, returned to the club, established the management company PT Persib Bandung Bermartabat and pledged Rp 10 billion ($1 million) to the team.

Indra Bigwanto, an official of the Vikings fan club, said the group didn’t think Umuh’s budget proposal was enough. Persib, which finished third last season, spent Rp 25.6 billion last year on players’ wages and operational costs.

“We understand the club’s problems and we want to help Persib by donating our own money,” Indra said on Monday. “We have 60,000 members around West Java and they’ve all agreed to help Persib’s cause.”

Indra said members would be asked to make a minimum contribution of Rp 15,000, which means the club could raise up to Rp 900 million. While Vikings said the money would be delivered straight to Persib’s management, Indra said he was aware that turning over the money wasn’t going be that easy, citing the possible ownership issues that could crop up.

“Our lawyer will examine all the options and legal aspects of our initiative,” Indra said. “We have also sought the assistance a public accounting firm to audit [Persib] every three months.”

Umuh said the complexities of such a proposal were not lost on him. “We talked with [the Vikings] about their plan but we have yet to decide on the matter,” Umuh told the Persib Web site. “We think their initiative could be a source of problems in the future.”

Umuh added that fans could help Persib in other ways, citing PBB’s introduction of a membership card with an annual membership cost of Rp 100,000. Cardholders are eligible for discounts at selected stores and also life insurance.

Regarding Persib’s finances, Umuh said supporters need not worry because PBB was talking to insurance group BNI Life about becoming the team’s main sponsor. “The sponsorship amount would be around Rp 30 billion per year. I hope we will reach a deal soon,” he said.