PSSi drops Asian Games 2002 bid<\/p>\n
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI) has brought to an end
\nthe polemics over its much-questioned demand, for a 2002 Asian
\nGames spot with the Indonesian contingent, after its chief Agum
\nGumelar announced on Wednesday that a national soccer team would
\nnot go to Pusan next year.<\/p>\n
\"I say PSSI will not send a team to the Asian Games. If
\nprevious developments looked as if we had somehow insisted (on
\ngoing), that's only the media blowing it out (of proportion),\"
\nAgum told reporters after a meeting with soccer officials here.<\/p>\n
The continent's biggest multi-event sporting showcase will
\ntake place in Pusan, South Korea, from Sept. 29 to Oct. 14, 2002.
\nKONI, the Indonesian sports council, has tentatively reserved
\nplaces for as many as 150 athletes in 20 events but excluded the
\nsoccer squad.<\/p>\n
PSSI's hopes were raised after the shooting and archery
\norganizations decided not to go. The shooting body said it did
\nnot have enough top-class athletes, while the archery
\norganization expressed pessimism over its medal prospects.<\/p>\n
The exclusion of the soccer team has triggered a somewhat
\nheated debate in the media, with PSSI demanding that it be given
\na chance to compete, as soccer is one of the nation's most
\npopular sports.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Imron ZS, a top official of KONI currently assigned
\nto supervise athlete training, appeared to be firm in his 'no go'
\nstance, saying that the national soccer team was not eligible for
\na Korean trip because it failed to meet certain criteria after
\nits mediocre showing at the recent SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur in
\naddition to the Asian soccer rankings and access to the Olympics
\nSolidarity program.<\/p>\n
\"As far as I'm concerned in my capacity as the training
\ndirector, soccer apparently falls out of the corridor I'm
\nsupposed to walk through in the team selection policy,\" Imron
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Even when his boss Wismoyo Arismunandar signaled a green light
\nfor PSSI to be given an entry through the back door, he did not
\nappear to be held back.<\/p>\n
Agum said on Wednesday that controversies had risen
\nparticularly by his cautious statement over a warning from AFC,
\nthe Asian soccer governing body, that PSSI, which has been absent
\nfrom the last three Asian Games, might be penalized for failing
\nto dispatch a team to the event yet again.<\/p>\n
\"I simply passed on the AFC's warning to KONI. I did not ask
\nKONI to send a soccer team to the Asian Games,\" Agum said.<\/p>\n
Agum, who is also the Minister of Transportation, said that
\nPSSI's decision not to go to Pusan was final, citing lack of
\nfinancial support needed for training.<\/p>",
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