Lt. Gen. Agum takes over PSSI chairmanship from Azwar

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)