KONI will increase bonuses for coaches

KONI will increase bonuses for coaches

JAKARTA (JP): The National Sports Council (KONI) is to award
coaches higher cash bonuses than ever before if their athletes
win medals at the 13th Asian Games in Bangkok next month.

KONI chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar said on Thursday he made
the promise following complaints the sports council had paid
little attention to coaches despite their key roles in improving
national athletes' performances.

South Korean taekwondo coach Oh Il-nam on Thursday was the
latest to criticize Wismoyo over the council's apathy toward
trainers' mediocre economic status.

Wismoyo, who toured the taekwondo training camp in Ragunan,
South Jakarta, ahead of the Asiad, admitted having paid little
respect to coaches.

"Without coaches, even a very talented athlete won't emerge as
a champion," he said.

To boost Indonesia's performance in the upcoming Asiad, a
coach will be offered a prize equal to 40 percent of the cash
bonus given to a medal-winning athlete, according to Wismoyo.

Athletes received Rp 25 million ((US$7,000 at the time) for
each gold won at the 19th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games here last
year. Coaches only earned Rp 5 million.

The council has announced that an Asian Games gold medal will
be worth Rp 50 million (US$6,500 at Thursday's rate) for an
athlete, a silver Rp 30 million and a bronze Rp 15 million.

Indonesia has set its sights on winning six golds, 11 silvers
and 13 bronzes from the 21 sports it will compete in at the
event.

Wismoyo said he welcomed any sports organizations' moves to
provide bigger cash prizes for coaches.

Oh told Wismoyo he represented fellow national coaches who
found their grievances over insufficient salaries had been left
unheeded.

"If coaches always have to think about how to meet their
families' basic needs, how can they concentrate on their jobs and
in turn improve their athletes' achievement," Oh said.

Oh said he did not worry about his earnings, thanks to his
$1,400 monthly salary given by the South Korean government.

"I'm paid enough by my government. It's the local coaches I'm
thinking about. Even if I don't get the bonus, that's fine with
me," he said.

The sports council plans to raise Oh's monthly allowance to Rp
750,000, but the foreign coach said he never thought about it.

Speaking about his target at the Asian Games, Oh predicted one
of his six proteges would win a gold. "We have a great chance in
the men's and women's flyweight, the men's bantamweight and
middleweight," he said.

Oh said South Korea would not compete in the flyweight and
bantamweight classes of the nation's traditional martial art.

Indonesia will field Andri Halim (heavyweight), Robert
(middleweight), Dominggus Boro (bantamweight) and Satrio
(flyweight) on the men's side and Sinta Berliana Heru
(heavyweight) and Yoana Wangsa Putri (flyweight) in the women's
competition. (yan)