Soerjadi admits to payment problems in badminton body

JAKARTA (JP): The chairman of the Badminton Association of Indonesia, Soerjadi, admitted yesterday that there is confusion regarding the late payment of players' contract money.

"We had a meeting to discuss the matter but I don't have anything to say now. We'll try to find out where the mistake is and the situation will then be examined in detail," he said yesterday at the national badminton center in Cipayung, East Jakarta.

Some 50 national shuttlers have yet to receive their three- month allowance from Yonex, a Japan-based sports equipment company. They should have received the money in late November or December.

The players protested the association by boycotting the New Year's party at Soerjadi's house last week.

Soerjadi acknowledged that the players have not received the money.

"It's true that the players haven't got their money. Based on the association's files, the players have not received their money from the August-September-October 1996 contract. It is recorded in our file," he said.

A reliable source said Wednesday that Yonex had given the money early July.

The association promised to solve the problem by the end of this week but it had to wait for the treasurer, Purnomo Sidhi, to return from abroad.

"The players are not guilty for protesting and the treasurer is not guilty either. The treasurer said that he had paid 12 payments to the shuttlers. As to which months the payments were done we will check them further," Soerjadi said.

Purnomo declined to comment on the issue before leaving the center. He rushed to his car and sped off.

"We have to find out where the problem is. I don't want to solve one problem but cause another one in the future," Soerjadi said.

He also said that he would be responsible for the problem.

"The chairman must be responsible for everything and that is me. I will be responsible if I have every detail of people's explanations. All I want is some explanations," he said.

Soerjadi is to give a speech to the athletes who are leaving the country tomorrow to take part in the Japan Open and Korea Open tournaments next week.

"I'll speak to the athletes tomorrow. I'll brief them on the problem and how we are going to handle it," he said.

Alan Budikusuma, Ardy B Wiranata, Indra Wijaya, Budi Santoso, Salim, Nunung Subandoro, Ricky Subagja, Rexy Mainaky, Denny Kantono, Antonius, Sigit Budiarto, Chandra Wijaya, Rudy Wijaya, Tony Gunawan, Trikus Heryanto and Flandy Limpele are representing the men's side in both tournaments.

The women players are Mia Audina, Meiluawati, Lidya Djaelawidjaja, Ellen Anggelina, Eliza, Zelin Resiana, Susi Susanti, Finarsih, Minarti Timur and Risyeu Rosalina. (yan)