Badminton body urged to be prudent in selecting chief

JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman has urged participants of the Badminton Association of Indonesia's national congress to look further than someone's position in choosing a chairman.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Vice President Try Sutrisno yesterday, Hayono said that if participants only considered a person's position then they might be disappointed when that person no longer held the position.

"It's obvious by media reports that government or military officers are the main nominees to chair an association due to their ability to raise funds. But sometimes a particular person is not the right man to chair an association," he said in his office.

Four of the association's Jakarta mayoralty branches have named as a candidate Subagyo Hadi Siswoyo, the Army's deputy chief of staff. Ten provincial branches have supported their choice.

But the West Jakarta mayoralty branch has named businessman Aburizal Bakrie.

The congress will take place at Hotel Indonesia from Nov. 28 to Dec. 1.

"The keyword in leading an organization is harmony," Try said, as quoted by Hayono.

Try, who was chairman of the association prior to becoming vice president, also said congress participants should not pit one nominee against the other but encourage them to work in harmony to improve the country's performance in badminton.

Hayono said he supported Aburizal statement, saying that Ical (Aburizal's nickname) was ready either to be nominated or work together with Subagyo.

"I think Pak Ical has the potential to be included in the association's national committee, perhaps as executive director," he said.

The association must discuss improving its organizational structure so it can improve athletes' achievements and introduce better programs for them in the future, he said.

"The people still expect much from badminton, as it is the only sport in which we can constantly reach world achievements," Hayono said.

Try also expressed expectations that the association would groom its athletes to enable them to win more than one gold in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

At the occasion, Try also urged the congress steering committee to realize the association's plan of having a national badminton academy.

"But I told him that we do not even have any sports science and medical centers, which are needed to develop all sports, including badminton, in Indonesia. We don't even have a national sports academy," Hayono said.

Soccer

Hayono also said that Try had urged the Indonesian Soccer Association to increase the discipline of its supporters so as to avoid unruly behavior and chaotic conditions. Previous league finals and SEA Games soccer finals have seen untoward behavior by soccer fans.

Hayono said the association must also consider ways to develop soccer in the country so the national team could improve its achievements.

"In the 1980s we could easily beat Japan. But now that Japan has qualified for next year's World Cup in France, I ask myself whether Japan is getting better or if we are getting worse," he said.

Hayono said that if the association wanted to compete in the 13th Asian Games in Bangkok next year, it must be transparent in its proposal to the National Sports Council.

The council has asked sports organizations to submit their proposals by today at the latest. The proposals must state what chances the athletes have in the quadrennial event.

"The association must be realistic in its proposal. If our national team can only reach the quarterfinals, just say it frankly. Don't give false hope and disappoint our people by saying that a team can reach the Games' semifinals," he said.

"However, I think our team still has a chance to qualify for the Games main draw, but not to reach the semis," he added.

The fourth Indonesian soccer league series started last week. (yan)