It's now or never for RI soccer: AFC

It's now or never for RI soccer: AFC

JAKARTA: Visiting Asian Football Confederation (AFC)
secretary-general Dato Peter Velappan said on Wednesday that
national soccer was at a critical point in striving to recapture
its past glory.

"Forty years ago, Indonesia soccer was victorious, but since
then it has been in a slumber. Through this program, Indonesia
has its final chance to either succeed or collapse," he said
after a two-day evaluation meeting on the implementation of the
Vision Asia development program for the country.

The program, to be tried out in Bandung and Yogyakarta
starting next year, is based on introducing a series of reforms
in the game, Antara news service reported. They include changes
in administration and organizations, establishing new leagues in
the areas to attract new sponsors as well as training programs
for coaches and referees.

If successful, Velappan added, the program would be expanded
to 10 major cities in 2007. -- JP