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Persipura Jayapura is looking for a temporary new home while Mandala Stadium in Jayapura, Papua, undergoes renovations.
The Indonesian Super League champion has more than just local competitions on its plate in the upcoming season after qualifying for the AFC Champions League group stage.

Despite its approval to host Super League matches this season, the 17,500-seat Mandala needs a heavy overhaul to stage Asian-class events; one that will take until at least February 2010.

“It’s a total renovation. The Papua government provided Rp 22 billion [$2.2 million] for the project,” Persipura official La Siya said in Jakarta on Thursday. “We are doing the project in compliance with AFC requirements, so it will be suitable for the AFC Champions League.”

With that in mind, the Black Pearls set out to find a new home stadium for its domestic matches. Makassar, South Sulawesi, and Malang, East Java, are their preferred options.

La Siya said the club would send a team to check the stadiums in those cities as it must meet a tight Aug. 31 deadline to declare its home stadium.

"There will be a team checking Andi Mattalatta Stadium in Makassar this weekend," he said. "We’ll also consider moving to Malang or Gresik, East Java. Tri Dharma Stadium in Gresik has met the Super League requirements. Besides, we don't have to share the venue with other ISL clubs."

Tri Dharma Stadium is the home ground of Premier Division club Gresik United.

Persipura is not the only club moving into new digs. Pelita Jaya parted company with Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung, West Java, and chose Singaperbangsa Stadium in Karawang, West Java, as its new home ground.

Pelita Jaya shared Si Jalak Harupat with Persib Bandung for most of last season.

Meanwhile, two East Kalimantan clubs — Bontang FC and Persiba Balikpapan — failed to show up at the Super League verification process in Jakarta on Thursday. The league rescheduled its meeting with both clubs to today.

“If both clubs fail to show up on Friday, then it will affect their appraisal for the Super League license,” said Tigor Shalom Boboy, the corporate secretary of PT Liga Indonesia. “Their fate will be decided in the plenary meeting.”

All 18 Super League clubs must be verified in order to earn a license to play in the top division. If they do not meet the requirements, such as a proper stadium, Rp 10 billion bank guarantee and professional management, they could be relegated to the Premier Division.