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SBY Stays Neutral in Simmering Dispute Over State of Indonesian Football
Wimbo Satwiko | March 30, 2010

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, accompanied by the first lady, Kristiani Herawati, and Minister of Youth and Sports Andi Malarangeng, watching Arema Malang take on Persitara North Jakarta at Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang, East Java, on Tuesday. Earlier he had addressed the National Football Congress. (Rumgapres Photo/Dudi Anung) President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, accompanied by the first lady, Kristiani Herawati, and Minister of Youth and Sports Andi Malarangeng, watching Arema Malang take on Persitara North Jakarta at Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang, East Java, on Tuesday. Earlier he had addressed the National Football Congress. (Rumgapres Photo/Dudi Anung)
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peterR
9:48am Mar 31, 2010

Just looking at the seating arrangements you can tell that SBY has really got into the swing of the game.

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Malang, East Java. Putting politics and the economy aside for the moment, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Tuesday made time to open the National Football Congress, calling on all to unite and work to lift the nation’s lackluster football performance .

But Yudhoyono stopped short of lending his voice to the growing calls for the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) to be revamped and its chairman, Nurdin Halid, replaced.

“Do we have faith that we can regain our greatness in the region? Yes, we have. And in order to achieve that, we have to unite in the national movement for national football,” Yudhoyono told the congress at the Ken Arok Sports Hall in Malang. “I also want to see a comprehensive evaluation in PSSI. We want to help PSSI so our team can perform better at the international level.”

Yudhoyono said the country was not lacking in human resources and talent — all it needed was for everyone to unite and work t ogether.

Last year was not a good one for Indonesian football. The national side failed to qualify for the 2011 Asian Cup and suffered an ignominious loss to Laos in the SEA Games, while PSSI failed dismally in its bid to host the 2020 World Cup in the absence of official government backing.

Yudhoyono said he hoped the national team would lift regional trophies in the near future.

“I want to see our team become a regional champion in five years and taking Asian titles in 10 years,” he said.

Minister of Youth and Sports Andi Malarangeng said he viewed the president’s statement as a push for a complete rethink at PSSI.

“When he said he wanted evaluation in PSSI, it means total overhaul, including a new chairman and officials,” Andi said.

But Nurdin, who has been under fire for having failed to improve standards after seven years in office, begged to differ.

“The president didn’t say Nurdin Halid must step down or PSSI must hold an election. I saw his speech as support,” he said.

“Don’t make false interpretations and prejudice” he said, adding that only PSSI members have the right to ask for elections and an extraordinary congress.

Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI) chairwoman Rita Subowo said the PSSI had yet to comply with a FIFA statute that requires the president, vice presidents and executive committee members not to have been found guilty in any criminal case. Nurdin was sentenced to 30 months in jail for illegally importing rice in 2005.

Yudhoyono later watched Arema Malang beat Persitara North Jakarta 2-0 in an Indonesian Super League match at the Kanjuruhan Stadium.

The congress is expected to come out with a recommendation on how to improve the country’s football performance today.