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," according to the AP. Former EPL players 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 int'l bans, the players are helping Indonesian football "make positive overseas headlines for the first time in years." Former Indonesian national team Manager Jacksen Tiago said, "Their arrival is a good thing because they can help the Indonesia football league profile overseas. ... Now television, papers and fans are more excited about football and people are really happy with those big names around the country." Another former national team coach, Alfred Riedl, said that there are "challenges for the foreign stars coming to Indonesia." Riedl: "The facilities such as dressing rooms, training fields and stadiums are still poor so if you are coming from Chelsea to Indonesian football there is a big difference" (AP, 5/8).
