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Voters pivotal to improving PSSI
As the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) extraordinary meeting draws closer, voters have a key role in ensuring the PSSI is better managed and governed by its chief, a soccer analyst has said
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span>As the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) extraordinary meeting draws closer, voters have a key role in ensuring the PSSI is better managed and governed by its chief, a soccer analyst has said.
Akmal Marhali of Save Our Soccer said the recent match fixing scandals that had held the PSSI hostage from getting into better shape should encourage all PSSI stakeholders, who will vote at the meeting, to deliberate a more reasonable code of conduct through the PSSI statute. That would enable them to craft excellent quality management and select a capable captain with proven integrity, he said.
“But I must admit that I have my doubts that the PSSI voters will walk in that direction, given the fact that there are still many voters who enjoy the current scene,” he told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.
He said the current statute had often sent the wrong signal to the public and therefore instead of producing good quality management, it only created havoc in the form of match fixing, bribery and many other ill practices.
He then said one of the requirements for the PSSI chief, which dictates a candidate should have been involved in soccer for the last five years, was among the tricky parts.
He acknowledged that the particular requirement had often been abused and used as a means to justify a person with experience but lack of integrity to jump in.
“Having great access to financial resources has often been highlighted as one of the must-have qualities of the new PSSI chief. This kind of pragmatism has held our soccer hostage for decades,” he added.
The head of the PSSI West Java branch, Tommy Apriantono, shared similar concerns and preferred a candidate with solid integrity and proven track record to lead the association.
“The candidate should also distance themselves from political parties or affiliations,” he said.
However, he refused to mention any name that came to mind in relation to the PSSI chief candidacy.
A new sports think tank, the Ganesport Institute, has provided seven criteria for an ideal PSSI chief. It says that the new PSSI chief should possess integrity, distance themselves from political affiliation, have proven leadership and managerial skills, hold a senior position, be independent, understand soccer and possess good diplomatic skills.
Amal Ganesha of Ganesport said the selected criteria was formed from feedback by 23 sports experts in various countries, mostly in Europe.
“This is the first study ever produced here. Thus we expect PSSI stakeholders to adopt these criteria when they need to select the new chief,” he said.
Sports expert from the Yogyakarta State University Djoko Pekik Irianto said based on the criteria, Erick Thohir would be a candidate for the PSSI chief seat.
“He possesses the knowledge, skills and experience of managing a world-class soccer club. He also has solid integrity because he hasn’t come from the PSSI environment,” he said.
Erick Thohir, a media mogul, was recently the campaign team chief of the presidential and vice presidential candidates, Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Ma’ruf Amin. He is also viewed as partly responsible for Indonesia’s success of fourth position at the 2018 Asian Games with 31 golds, 24 silvers and 43 bronzes, exceeding the initial target of 16 golds and finishing in the top 10.
Erick used to have majority ownership of Inter Milan FC, one of Europe’s top soccer clubs, before selling stakes to China’s Suning Group in 2016 and the LionRock Capital of Hong Kong earlier this year.
Erick hinted that he would like to discuss how to improve local soccer management after the presidential election was over.
“Our soccer should be managed at top speed levels of integrity, professionalism and transparency. In fact, all political affiliations should be left at the door,” he said as quoted by tempo.co in February.
Comr. Gen. Muhammad Iriawan, popularly known as Iwan Bule, has also announced his candidacy. The former Jakarta Police chief said he had gained support from heads of PSSI’s provincial branches and club owners.
“My vision is clear, we must push ourselves to take part in the 2026 World Cup. Off course, we need to meet regional targets first before we get there,” he said.
Iwan also promised that under his watch, the PSSI would possess its own home base, located on a 30 hectare plot of land, consisting of an office, soccer fields and top notch sports science facilities.
Commenting on the PSSI chief candidacy, secretary general of the Professional Footballers Association of Indonesia (APPI) Mahardika Aji said besides all the ideal requirements, the association also expected the new PSSI chief to have a background as a player.
The PSSI has picked Hotel Mercure located within the Ancol amusement park in North Jakarta as its location for the extraordinary meeting on July 27. The agenda of the meeting is to deliberate a new PSSI statute and form a working group and appeal committee for the PSSI chief selection process.
