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I am no stranger to sports scene, says new sports minister
Zainudin said President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo had asked him to focus on improving soccer.
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Be nice: Newly appointed Youth and Sports Minister Zainudin Amali, a Golkar Party politician, visits his new office on Wednesday. (The Jakarta Post/Kompas)
D
uring his first visit to his new office, newly appointed Youth and Sports Minister Zainudin Amali told journalists that he was not an unknown figure in the country’s sports scene.
The minister, who met with his staff at the ministry, said he enjoyed all sports.
“[Back in the day] I established a college students league in the 1980s. It produced players like Patar Tambunan,” said the Golkar party politician, referring to the former national soccer player, who ushered the country’s team into the semifinals of the 1986 Asian Games.
“So, I am not an unknown figure in the country’s sports scene. I also managed the sports division of the National Committee of Indonesian Youths,” said Zainudin.
Zainudin went on to say that President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo had asked him to focus on improving soccer, which in the past has been embroiled in issues such as match-fixing and player scandals.
“He emphasized managing [performance],” he said.
The previous sports minister, Imam Nahrawi, was named a suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for his alleged involvement in a corruption case pertaining to a grant distributed to the National Sports Committee (KONI).
