PBSI insists current contract still the best

PBSI insists current contract still the best

JAKARTA (JP): The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI)
secretary-general, Leo Chandra Wiranata, insisted on Wednesday
that the ongoing collective sponsorship system for players was
still the best option to support athletes' needs.

Leo was responding to Olympics gold medalists Candra Wijaya
and Tony Gunawan's call to allow players to seek individual
sponsorships.

Leo said by having collective sponsorships, PBSI had so far
collected Rp 35 billion (US$3.7 million) over four years from
Japanese sports equipment producer Yonex.

"We must differentiate the positive and negative sides of both
systems. With individual sponsorships, only elite players can
strike a deal while juniors or non-elite shuttlers will get
nothing. Never expect our women's shuttlers to get a $10,000
contract," Leo said, referring to Indonesian female shuttlers and
their poor form in the last two years.

"With a collective contract, PBSI has had an income of Rp 35
billion within a four-year term and players also get their
equipment."

Leo also emphasized that the sponsorship issue would be the
most crucial concern if it was brought up at the association's
national plenary congress in December 2001.

"The decision to change the sponsorship system could make
Indonesian badminton better or worse. Therefore, it should be
discussed at the congress by involving members of PBSI."

"If all players want to get individual contracts, how can PBSI
maintain the facilities at the Indonesian Badminton Center? We
must study this thoroughly."

PBSI chairman Subagyo Hadisiswoyo offered four options to
players during their discussion last week. The first option is
rearranging the percentage of contract money between players and
PBSI, the second is players can look for co-sponsors under the
agreement with Yonex of $300,000 per year, and the third option
is players can look for individual sponsors but can still stay at
the center. The last option is that players turn profession.
(yan)