Soccer likely to go through back door 2002 Asiad

Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The National Sports Council (KONI) is still stalling over the much-awaited decision as to whether soccer will be given a place in the Indonesian sporting contingent to the 2002 Asian Games.

Although the decision has yet to be made, the latest development has signaled that the soccer team may slip through the back door.

"We can regard the participation of an athlete either as part of a mission to win medals or as part of the long-term development plan," said KONI chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar, after a media gathering here on Wednesday.

"That the soccer team may go to the games as a part of the sport's development, we will take it into consideration," he said, adding that the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) must then pay all its own expenses.

The continent's biggest sporting showcase will be held in Pusan, South Korea, from Sept. 29 to Oct. 14, 2002. KONI has listed around 150 prospective athletes from 20 sports events, excluding soccer.

While the PSSI insists that soccer be included as it is one of the country's most popular sports, KONI, through Imron ZS, the training director, has been adamant about its plan, saying PSSI fails to meet KONI criteria.

Neither has KONI secretary-general Rudolf Warouw shown signs of giving in. However, both have not ruled out the possibility of Wismoyo using his veto.

Wismoyo's signal of a green light for soccer's entry has come as no surprise given the background of the top persons behind the two organizations.

PSSI is led by three-star Army general Agum Gumelar, who is also the transportation minister while Wismoyo is a retired army general.

Wismoyo said: "Personally, as part of the national soccer community I would like to see the PSSI in Pusan."

"If the PSSI insists on going to the Asian Games it must provide clear reasoning. We will surely discuss the matter with PSSI before coming to a conclusion," he said.

Soccer has been excluded from the 20-event list because a soccer team to the recent South East Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur failed to reach the semifinals.

Indonesian soccer team also falls out of the top five in the Asian rankings.

They also fail a third criteria, in that the athletes must be among the list of Olympic Solidarity assignees.