PSSI plans to hire neutral auditing firm

JAKARTA (JP): As a way to improve the financial situation of the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI), chairman Agum Gumelar announced on Tuesday evening a plan to hire PricewaterhouseCoopers to audit the PSSI.

"We plan to ask PricewaterhouseCoopers to do our auditing. We have a specific goal but I can't reveal that right now. One thing for sure is that we plan to make the PSSI more independent in the future," he said during a breaking the fast event at his residence.

Agum, however, refused to elaborate. The PSSI is audited each month by a public accounting firm.

"We dismiss the internal audit post in our organizational structure, because the auditor, Irawan Adjidarmo, had been appointed team manager for Persija soccer club. So we have made a new plan which is aimed at making the association more professional and independent."

Agum also revealed the change of officials in his organization after the resignation of the official in charge of athletes development, Nurdin Halid.

Nurdin was criticized over his alleged decision to discharge national team coach Nandar Iskandar during the 2000 Tiger Cup qualifying round in Thailand last month.

Agum approved Nurdin's resignation last Wednesday on the grounds that the latter wanted to be freed from the media attack which had caused a psychological burden to his family.

Nurdin is replaced by Ismet D. Tahir, the official in charge of competitions and tournaments, while Sartomo, the official in charge of human resources development, took over Ismet's post.

Sartomo's post is left vacant but Agum pledged to recruit a new person to take the job.

At a lower level of the organization, training manager Yopie Leepel is appointed as the technical director replacing Ronny Pattinasarani. The latter takes the job as the director of junior soccer development and will be assisted by Eddie Simon Wijaya as the junior soccer development manager.

Agum also recruited Bambang Nurdiansyah to replace Yopie and Tumpak Sihite as the manager in charge of talentscouting.

In the marketing and promotion commission, Hendra Gunawan replaced Tantowi Yahya who withdrew in October. The executive secretary post was dismissed and secretary, M. Achwani, was appointed as the league manager, replacing the late Karnadi.

Another newcomer was Gunawan Tjandra, the facilities director.

Ismet said that he is likely to prioritize the development of junior soccer.

"I can't talk yet about my program because I have to discuss it first with the directors," he said. (ivy)