Soccer likely to go through back door 2002 Asiad

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.