Basketball in RI needs change: Ary

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)