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)