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Athletes sidelined as Indonesian sports managers prioritize money, power
We are trapped by jargon and propaganda but always fail to stay loyal in executing and safeguarding goodquality programs for our athletes. It gets worse as internal conflicts and harmful practices like match fixing and bribery continue to mar our sports arenas. The ultimate victim of these kinds of practices is always the athlete.
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A man passes a wall with murals criticizing the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI), which faces allegations of match fixing, in Bogor, West Java, on Nov. 18. To the left of the man is the sentence “PSSI is full of controversy”, while the right reads “Timnas [national team] in crisis, the federation is apathetic” and “ramshackle PSSI”. (Antara/Arif Firmansyah)
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thletes should be placed on the main stage of the sporting world; all efforts must be centered on boosting their skills and providing a supporting environment for them.
Ideal conditions in sports could have a massive trickledown effect on a nation, from solid campaigns over the benefits of maintaining physical fitness by doing sports to the development of sport-based industries that would boost a country’s economy and accelerate social welfare.
It is never an easy task, however, to achieve such ideal conditions.
The biggest challenge is the details. Amid the hustle bustle of Indonesian sports this year, many critics have stated that Indonesian sports is going nowhere. We are trapped by jargon and propaganda but always fail to stay loyal in executing and safeguarding good quality programs for our athletes. It gets worse as internal conflicts and harmful practices like match fixing and bribery continue to mar our sports arenas. The ultimate victim of these kinds of practices is always the athlete.
This year started with a series of investigations on several Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) officials who had been linked to match-fixing practices in the country’s third-tier soccer league.
Persibara Banjarnegara manager Laksmi Indriyani admitted that she had given PSSI officials Rp 1.5 billion (US$107,235) so her club could host a match in her city, Banjarnegara, Central Java. At about the same time, Madura FC manager Januwar Herwanto claimed Hidayat, a former member of the PSSI executive committee, had offered him Rp 150 million to ensure that his side would lose a match against PSS Sleman in the country’s second tier league.
Because of these investigations, then-PSSI chief Lt. Gen. (ret) Edy Rahmayadi decided to step down from his position in Jan. 20. Edy, who was widely criticized over his decision to maintain his position as PSSI chief following his election as North Sumatra governor, realized that the PSSI crowd was no longer his and it would be difficult to lead the organization without their trust.
