Cash-strapped PBSI mulls mass dismissal of players

JAKARTA (JP): The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) indicated on Thursday a massive dismissal of elite players accommodated at its training center here due to lack of funds.

PBSI chairman Subagyo Hadisiswoyo told reporters here that dismissing half of the existing 60 players being groomed at the training center in Cipayung, East Jakarta, was one of three options to save the organization from its worst financial deficit ever.

"The financial crisis will force us to make a difficult decision. We have drafted three possible options to be discussed further," Subagyo said at the training center, which has given birth to a lot of the world's badminton greats.

Subagyo was speaking after presenting car insurance policies to players and their coaches who won medals at last month's Sydney Olympic Games. The value of the policies ranged from between Rp 200 million (US$ 22,400) and Rp 600 million.

Other proposed solutions are sending a short-list of players for outings and opting for junior, second-string players as competitors in international tournaments, instead of seasoned shuttlers, Subagyo said.

However, he would not go into detail about the cause of the deficit that may compromise the players' achievements in the future.

"From now on we will give shuttlers who have achieve well the first chance to play in tournaments abroad. Only if we can find adequate sponsorship can we also send others of a lower standard," he said.

He maintained that despite the crisis, PBSI would help the players develop, particularly on the women's side.

Separately, PBSI secretary general Leo Chandra Winata admitted that the national badminton body had been suffering from a deficit of funds over the past two years.

"Although we have a substantial amount of reserve funds, the PBSI isn't as rich as the public may think. We have collected Rp 6 billion in reserve funds from various fund raising activities in the past," he said.

Only some Rp 2 billion is remaining in PBSI's coffer after it spent Rp 4 billion to cover the deficit in its budget.

Leo said PBSI also received Rp 5 billion from sponsors this fiscal year, but the funds in hand remained far from enough to cover the expenses needed to support shuttlers on various tours, which this year could reach Rp 11 billion.

PBSI also has a perpetual fund of Rp 31 billion in depository notes. The association uses the interest rates to finance its day to day activities.

"It's our intention to never use the perpetual fund. Instead, we are trying to increase it in order to get a bigger income from interest rates," said Leo.

He said the cash-strapped PBSI would send only 15 players to the season opening with the Japan Open next year, half the number Indonesia used to send in the past.

Speaking on the reduction of players in the training center, Leo said it could occur in a natural way.

"There are players who feel it's time for them to leave either for achievement, age, or health reasons. I have heard that some players are considering retirement from the training center but I haven't received any official letters from them yet," he said.

Men's doubles player Rexy Mainaky is one of the players who will depart the center after he took up a coaching job with an English team. (nvn)