Indonesian Hockey Association told to pull up its socks

Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Young hockey players have urged the laid-back Indonesian Hockey Association (PHSI) to get moving and start working out a development program.

The association, which has been at odds with the National Sports Council (KONI), has failed to perform its tasks, given the fact that it has not organized a tournament for almost seven years.

The 1996 National Championship, which was the qualifier for the 1996 National Sports Championship (PON), was the last time PHSI initiated an event.

"There seems to be something wrong with the organization. They (PHSI officials) must upgrade their organizational performance," Dian Utami, 19, told The Jakarta Post during the one-day Indonesia Hockey Youth Challenge 2003 here on Friday.

Dian, who played with the London School of Public Relations (LSPR) team, expressed her hopes of becoming a national player but conceded that the discouraging condition of national hockey was a barrier to anyone wanting to improve their hockey performance.

"The hockey (executive board) is no good. We have never seen a tournament organized by PHSI," she said, adding that the LSPR team, which was established only two years ago, took part in four to five tournaments a year.

Johan Budiman, 20, shed more light on the Jakarta hockey chapter (PHJ), which he said also appeared to be inactive.

"I'd love to play for the national team, but it appears hockey is suffering from a lack of tournaments. I do it just for fun at the moment," said the midfielder from the Usakti Hockey Club.

"As far as I know we have never participated in a tournament organized by PHJ. To build strong players, we should have enough tournaments at the national level and participate in some international events," he said.

PHSI is currently led by Primadi Tabrani, whose term ends in July.

Meanwhile, 12 Jakarta-based teams -- six each in the junior men's and women's division -- featured in the Indonesia Hockey Youth Challenge 2003 at the Bung Karno sports center.

"We want to encourage youths to play hockey to help promote the sport in the country," Ken Allan, chairman of the organizing committee, said.

The event will be followed by the two-day Kabelvision Hockey Festival 2003 with two teams from Hong Kong and one from Singapore among the 12 participants.

Makassar-based UNHAS, Bandung-based UNPAD and Mandala teams will also participate.