Soccer Extreme : The Filipino football brothers who caught the eyes of Indonesian fans during the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup last month are apparently set to become fixtures in Indonesian football. Media reports on Tuesday said the Filipino-British brothers Philip and James Younghusband are likely to sign a deal this week with Jakarta 1928 FC, which is part of the newly formed Indonesia Premier League (IPL).
Jakarta 1928 officials are arriving in Manila on Wednesday for a possible contract signing, according to Franco Lorenzo, a member of the management team of the Philippine football team, who is negotiating for the Younghusbands, as reported by the Phillippine Daily Inquirer.
Lorenzo did not disclose contract terms, but said the Indonesian club was well enough financially to convince the brothers, who are graduates of the Chelsea Academy in London.
IPL, the upstart league challenging the supremacy of the PSSI-sanctioned Indonesian Super League, has also confirmed the news.
“Yes, IPL will help [Jakarta 1928 FC] because this is a premiere league and they are a new club,” IPL spokesperson Abi Hasantoso told news portal inilah.com.
“The IPL consortium will use all of its networks to develop the clubs and improve the quality of the league. The club has had its eyes set on the Younghusband brothers. And to have Philip and James here is one of the IPL consortium’s programs,” he continued.
The IPL debuted on Saturday with a match between Solo FC and Persema Malang at Manahan Stadium in Solo, Central Java. Oil tycoon Arifin Panigoro established the IPL in September, describing it as “the start of national football reform.”
Three of its 19 clubs — Persema Malang, Persibo Bojonegoro and PSM Makassar — are former ISL clubs, while the others are new.
The PSSI has faced heavy public criticism not only for incompetence but also alleged corruption. However, the PSSI has vowed not to recognize the league, going as far as saying it would impose harsh sanctions on players and clubs taking part in the “illegal” competition. (jakartaglobe)