PBVSI mulls big money for Karikov
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Indonesian Volleyball Association (PBVSI)'s intention of hiring internationally-respected coach Karikov could still be thwarted by the need to top dollar to the former coach of the Russian national team.
The Volleyball Federation of Russia in a letter dated June 6 set a number of conditions for the PBVSI to meet, including that Karikov be paid 4,000 euros (US$4,675) a month.
"What a high salary they are demanding. Actually, we have set the ceiling at US$2,000," PBVSI chairwoman Rita Subowo said here on Tuesday.
However, Rita said that she had not ruled out the possibility of the demand being met.
"We will have to discuss it with our sponsors, who have promised to provide financial assistance," she said.
The required salary is much higher that what is normally paid to local coaches, whom according to Rita usually get between Rp 3 million (US$337) and Rp 4 million ($449) per month.
Other conditions demanded by the Russian federation include an apartment, car, medical insurance, international airfares, vacations and accommodation for family members.
"We will try to talk it over and inform them about our decision as soon as possible," Rita said.
Karikov, should the deal proceed, is projected to train the women's team, now preparing for the upcoming Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
The team is currently coached by Cuban Lesme Araujo Cintra, who has been with the team for a year and is paid US$2,600 a month. If Karikov is appointed, Cintra will probably be made junior team coach.
Rita said that Karikov had been recommended by the chairman of the International Coaches Association, whom she failed to name, during a congress held by the international volleyball body, the FIVB, in Lausanne, Switzerland, last month.
While the deal has yet to be sealed, Rita signaled the urgency of finding a foreign coach of the caliber of Karikov so as to allow Indonesia build up a strong team.
"Karikov would be the right person to strengthen our women's team. We want this team to be strong. Look, Thailand is in the world top ten now. The women's division is where we have a realistic opportunity of competing with rest of the world as this division does not have as many contenders as the men's division," she said.
The women's team, which comprises 13 players, along with their male compatriots, is currently engaged in training at the Sentul Training Center in Bogor, some 40 kilometers south of Jakarta.