Hit the books along with the weights, athletes told

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Wed, 05/16/2007 7:54 AM

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

School-age athletes in Indonesia are often at a crossroads: Study or pursue a sporting career? More often than not, one has to be sacrificed.

Only few sports organizations have been able to balance study and sport -- but it all depends, of course, on the vision of the leaders.

The Indonesia Karatedo Federation (Forki) and the Indonesian Volleyball Association (PBVSI) are two organizations that have achieved a balance.

Forki chairman Luhut Binsar Panjaitan said the dwindling achievements of Indonesia's sportsmen and women were partly due to the low level of education among athletes.

""We find it difficult to accelerate the training of our athletes, to improve our sporting achievements at the international level, largely because they lack good education,"" he said in an interview over the weekend.

""We are encouraging our athletes to apply for scholarships, so they can improve their level of education.""

Luhut said a proper education also will help athletes survive in the ""real world"" after their sporting careers have ended.

""We don't want to see formerly successful athletes end up working as low-paid security guards or bodyguards.""

National Sports Council chairwoman Rita Subowo, also a patron of PBVSI, explained that volleyballers training at the national training camp in Sentul, south of Jakarta, were required to attend school every day after training.

""PBVSI works together with several state schools in Bogor to allow our athletes to study. Although, sometimes we have to ask for special exemptions for our athletes if their school exam schedules coincide with international tournaments,"" she said.

Rita said cash or housing bonuses would not secure athletes' welfare after retirement.

""Only education will ensure that our athletes will be able to gain employment and make a living after retirement.""

Luhut concurred, citing former karateka Intan Ahmad, the West Java champion in 1981, as an example.

""Intan finished his post-graduate studies and is now employed as the dean of the School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at the Bandung Institute of Technology. I want other athletes to follow his example,"" he said.

Another good example is the system adopted by the Indonesian Swimming Association (PRSI), which since the 1970s has sent its athletes overseas, mostly to the U.S., for both long-term training and study.

Not all Indonesian athletes have enjoyed post-retirement success.

Former International Boxing Federation super-flyweight champion Ellyas Pical is one example.

Ellyas, who did not graduate from elementary school, became a security guard at a nightspot in Jakarta after hanging up his gloves. He was later arrested and tried for dealing drugs, and was sentenced to seven months in prison.

The 47-year-old now works as a clerk at the KONI office.

Indonesian Atiek Djauhari, who now coaches in Thailand, said education has helped with rapid progress in sports development in the country.

""Many Thai athletes graduate from university. Some of them are earning post-graduate degrees, like Boonsak Ponsana,"" he said.

Ponsana has been Thailand's ace on the badminton court for several years and recently won the Singapore Open men's singles title on May 6.

Working with educated athletes, Atiek said, makes it easier for the coaches, as educated athletes are more apt to understand coaching instructions.

""They (the Thai athletes) are also very respectful to their coaches. That's the main difference to the situation in Indonesia. Here, if the coach is ever wrong, athletes will refuse to obey instructions from then on,"" said Atiek, who once trained the Indonesian national team.

The deputy for athlete empowerment at the State Ministry for Youth and Sports Affairs, Sahyan Asmara, said his office would prioritize education for athletes.

""We are cooperating with the Education Ministry to initiate and provide scholarships to school-age athletes,"" he said.

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