Top soccer official's resignation regretted

Top soccer official's resignation regretted

JAKARTA (JP): A top official of the All-Indonesia Football
Association yesterday lamented the plan to resign by
the association's league and competition manager Ismet Tahir.

Nugraha Besoes, secretary-general of the soccer body, said
yesterday that although he had already received a formal letter
of resignation from Ismet, no final decision has been taken by
the association.

"The issue is now receiving our full attention, and we expect
to reach a happy ending when Ismet meets the chairman in the near
future," Nugraha said.

"Ismet has been an undisputed key figure in our soccer
organization for the past decade. As one of the association's
newer staff members, I feel we remain in need of his services,"
said Nugraha.

Ismet made the headlines recently when his letter to the
chairman of the soccer body, Azwar Anas, asking for early
retirement was leaked.

In his letter Ismet said that he could not accept a procedural
violation in the association's decision to let Jakarta club
Pelita Jaya secure talented striker Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto, who
wrapped up his two-year contract with Swiss premiership side
Lucerne last month.

According to the association's rules, Kurniawan should have
received an International Transfer Certificate before being
declared a Pelita Jaya player. The association, however,
confirmed Pelita's acquisition of the 20-year-old player in its
decree issued in mid June without the mandatory certificate.

Kurniawan is now heading for the Italian Serie A club
Sampdoria following a three-year deal and a US$50,000 transfer
fee.

Nugraha said that Azwar has yet to set a date to talk with
Ismet but confirmed that the chairman has received Ismet's
letter.

Another official heated up the resignation row by saying that
four more top executives are likely to follow in the footsteps of
Ismet.

He identified the officials as foreign affairs commissioner
Nabon Noor, competition director Iswadi Idris, youth league
director Sinyo Aliandu and league director Karnadi Siregar. (amd)