Lt. Gen. Agum takes over PSSI chairmanship from Azwar

JAKARTA (JP): Lt. Gen. Agum Gumelar will take over from Azwar Anas as chairman of the All Indonesian Soccer Federation (PSSI) on Wednesday, the federation announced on Tuesday.

Azwar told a media conference following an emergency meeting on Tuesday that Agum had accepted the top post earlier in the day.

Azwar said that Agum's superior, Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto, had also approved his appointment as the new PSSI chairman.

Agum, who is also the federation's official in charge of human resource development, is the Governor of the National Resilience Institute.

PSSI secretary-general Nugraha Besoes said Agum would serve as the acting chief until his formal induction, which is scheduled for November. It was not clear, however, whether Agum would serve a full term in office. Azwar's second five-year tenure was due to end next year.

The federation's spokesman, Tondo Widodo, said Agum was expected to preside over an executive meeting for the first time on Wednesday afternoon.

Azwar said he hoped that under Agum, the federation would be able to improve the standard of soccer in the country.

"I decided to resign because of my moral responsibility to facilitate the development of national soccer. I'm looking forward to a better future for the sport in the country," Azwar said.

Azwar stepped down after a farcical display by the Indonesian team in a Tiger Cup match against Thailand in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, last week. Indonesia deliberately scored an own goal that handed Thailand a 3-2 win and an unwanted semifinal meeting with Vietnam.

National team manager Andrie Amien and coach Rusdy Bahalwan have both tendered their resignations but the federation has yet to decide if it will accept either.

Tondo dismissed reports that a number of executives would follow in Azwar's footstep.

"The chairman has taken responsibility for the team's disgraceful display. There are no other executives who will resign," he said.

But Azwar corrected Tondo's statement, saying that some officials had wanted to join him but that he had asked them to reconsider.

"I told them not to resign because it's was my responsibility," he said.

Tondo said that the federation was awaiting a report from Rusdy before deciding on how to punish defenders Mursyid Effendy and Kuncoro, who teamed up to net the own goal. The federation heard Andrie's explanation of events on Tuesday.

"We expect a technical report from Rusdy on Thursday. On Friday, we will hold a special meeting decide the fate of the team," Tondo said.

Earlier in the day, the deputy chairman of the National Sports Council, Arie Sudewo, reiterated that Indonesia would not compete in the 13th Asian Games soccer competition, despite a suggestion from host Thailand that the country take part for the sake of Asian spirit.

"We are going to send a contingent to the event that will be minus the soccer team. That is enough to demonstrate our Asian spirit," said Arie. (yan)