Qualified KONI chairman wanted

Qualified KONI chairman wanted

Indonesia has failed to live up to almost all its previous achievements, including those in sports. The country once enjoyed a glorious era in badminton. Now its rivals have emerged as new powers and all that Indonesia has now is simply the remnants of the past.

Against this background, some figures are competing to chair the institution that is most responsible for the development of Indonesian sports -- the National Sports Committee (KONI).

Four of the contestants are Sutiyoso, Agum Gumelar, Arie Sudewo and Luhut B. Pandjaitan -- all retired Army generals.

It seems that only Luhut and Arie Sudewo would have enough time to manage KONI, because they have no permanent position in government institutions. Sutiyoso, chairman of the Indonesian Basketball Association (PB Perbasi), is Jakarta governor and Agum, current chairman of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI), is the minister of transportation.

In basketball, Sutiyoso has made no notable achievement. He should concentrate more on his job as Jakarta governor, so as to handle the flooding better.

Agum has also failed to prove himself in football administration. As a minister he has yet to score a remarkable success, so concentrating on his ministerial job would be better for him.

The KONI chairperson should be a figure with good vision and courage to focus properly on the priorities in his or her agenda. He or she must be aware that not all sports are suited to the physique of Indonesian people.

It is impossible (for KONI) to achieve well in all sports.

The most important thing is that a figure who was too ambitious for the post, regardless of achievements, would not be fit to lead KONI.

-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta