PSSi drops Asian Games 2002 bid
PSSi drops Asian Games 2002 bid
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI) has brought to an end
the polemics over its much-questioned demand, for a 2002 Asian
Games spot with the Indonesian contingent, after its chief Agum
Gumelar announced on Wednesday that a national soccer team would
not go to Pusan next year.
"I say PSSI will not send a team to the Asian Games. If
previous developments looked as if we had somehow insisted (on
going), that's only the media blowing it out (of proportion),"
Agum told reporters after a meeting with soccer officials here.
The continent's biggest multi-event sporting showcase will
take place in Pusan, South Korea, from Sept. 29 to Oct. 14, 2002.
KONI, the Indonesian sports council, has tentatively reserved
places for as many as 150 athletes in 20 events but excluded the
soccer squad.
PSSI's hopes were raised after the shooting and archery
organizations decided not to go. The shooting body said it did
not have enough top-class athletes, while the archery
organization expressed pessimism over its medal prospects.
The exclusion of the soccer team has triggered a somewhat
heated debate in the media, with PSSI demanding that it be given
a chance to compete, as soccer is one of the nation's most
popular sports.
Meanwhile, Imron ZS, a top official of KONI currently assigned
to supervise athlete training, appeared to be firm in his 'no go'
stance, saying that the national soccer team was not eligible for
a Korean trip because it failed to meet certain criteria after
its mediocre showing at the recent SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur in
addition to the Asian soccer rankings and access to the Olympics
Solidarity program.
"As far as I'm concerned in my capacity as the training
director, soccer apparently falls out of the corridor I'm
supposed to walk through in the team selection policy," Imron
said.
Even when his boss Wismoyo Arismunandar signaled a green light
for PSSI to be given an entry through the back door, he did not
appear to be held back.
Agum said on Wednesday that controversies had risen
particularly by his cautious statement over a warning from AFC,
the Asian soccer governing body, that PSSI, which has been absent
from the last three Asian Games, might be penalized for failing
to dispatch a team to the event yet again.
"I simply passed on the AFC's warning to KONI. I did not ask
KONI to send a soccer team to the Asian Games," Agum said.
Agum, who is also the Minister of Transportation, said that
PSSI's decision not to go to Pusan was final, citing lack of
financial support needed for training.