Basketball in RI needs change: Ary

JAKARTA (JP): Noted basketball promoter Ary Sudarsono marked the Indonesian Basketball Association's 45th anniversary celebrations yesterday with a strong call for a regreening of the sport's organization.

Ary, who resigned from the association after a prolonged and bitter conflict with the association's management, was quoted by Antara yesterday as saying that "the present management, ruled by people who have been in office for too long, is unable to control its members with vested interests. That's why regeneration is necessary."

Ary refused to identify the people who only think of their personal interests, but said that this unethical trend was obvious in every meeting held by the association.

"I hope my resignation will open the eyes of the management to be more introspective and welcome more younger people to work in the association.

"Promoting basketball is a serious task. It should not be viewed as simply a side business, as many in the present management do."

Ary said that he and Budi Rustanto, another association official who also resigned, realized that basketball should be promoted among young students as early as possible and hence, they planned to set up a student basketball league before a seminar on national basketball is held in Bandung from Nov. 15 to Nov. 24. (arf)