KONI to set up special team for Asiad training

JAKARTA (JP): The National Sports Council is to set up a special team to decide which sports will start training in order to represent Indonesia at the 13th Asian Games in Bangkok in December 1998.

Indonesia's 19th SEA Games contingent leader, Togi M. Hutagaol, told a press conference yesterday that the council's vice chairman, Arie Sudewo, would be in charge of the team.

The team will also have to discuss how to finance the training and the sending.

Each sports organization is being asked to submit their proposals as soon as possible.

"The team will decide in which events Indonesia will compete based on the proposals," he said.

Togi expects the team to finish its work by the end of this month. "Considering the time, the training must start by the end of this month."

He said: "We have suggested 16 potential sports so we get to the top eight in the Asiad based on the results of the SEA Games and some previous championships."

The 16 sports are archery, badminton, beach volleyball, boxing, cycling, fencing, gymnastic, judo, karate, rowing, surfing, swimming, tae kwon do, tennis, track and field and weight lifting.

Togi said the council would probably agree to a 10-month program under each sports organization before all athletes join the three-month centralized training under the council.

Some sports organizations have already started their long-term training to prepare for the Asiad.

During the 10-month program, sports organizations are urged to send athletes to Asian championships which enable them and the council to assess the athletes' progress.

Togi said the council had yet to decide whether the sports organizations or the council would finance the training.

State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sport Hayono Isman has urged the council to submit its proposal as soon as possible so as to be able to include the Asian Games training program in the 1998/1999 State Budget.

"With only a limited number of athletes going to the Asiad, I think we still have many ways to raise money," Togi said in reply to the minister's call.

However, Togi said a long-term training program would face difficulties with athletes' schooling, work foreign coaches.

During the preparations for the SEA Games, most sports organizations hired foreign coaches.

The council said earlier that it might not send the soccer team to the Asiad based on its results in the SEA Games.

Indonesia only won the silver after losing to Thailand in a penalty shoot-out.

But council chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar said yesterday: "I want to give another chance to the soccer team. I think they tried really hard during the SEA Games. I just want our soccer team to improve."

Indonesia has missed the soccer event in the last three quadrennial Games. If the country does not send its team to the Asiad next year, the Asian Football Confederation will probably punish Indonesia.

Separately, the Indonesian Football Association's secretary- general, Nugraha Besoes, said the association would prepare a long-term training program for the team.

"We'll have a discussion with clubs soon to let the players join the training. Our training program will let the players play for their clubs in the Indonesian League," he said.

Minister Hayono said he disagreed with the long-term training because he preferred the association to improve the league system.

Speaking about the association's problems to pay the outstanding referees allowances of US$69,000, Nugraha said the association would still keep trying.

"We have a slim chance of getting financial assistance from the council. But we'll still try to solve our problem before the end of this month. Otherwise the confederation will punish us," he said. (yan)