KONI chief rejects further extension

KONI chief rejects further extension

JAKARTA (JP): Executive chairman of the National Sports Council (KONI) looks to throw in the towel even before the competition begins. Yesterday he turned down the nomination for the council's leadership board for the next four-year term.

"Eight years are too much for me," Soeweno said. "I don't deserve any post any longer since I failed to lead the national team to success during the recent Asian Games," he added.

KONI will hold its election for its president in its national congress next week. Incumbent president Surono has hinted at his bid for a second term, but many sports figures, including Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman suggested a regreening in the national sports governing body.

"I won't have to run for any post. I have to listen to what the people say," said Soeweno, a former chief of Army's Strategic Command. KONI's Vice President Soesilo Soedarman had earlier turned down the offer to take Surono's mantle, saying that he was too busy with his position as Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security.

Soeweno, who has been much involved with sports development since 1986, said the government now should line up a more definite system as well as a guideline. "It will help KONI to re- establish a bottom-up development in the national sports," said Soeweno. (amd)