His exit from the Cabinet has set a good example, and it is not a traditional move in a country where public officials seem to cling stubbornly to power. But the Golkar politician’s choice to concentrate on soccer is strategic as well, like a well-timed tiki-taka pass.

Zainuddin said he had tendered his resignation to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, who later confirmed the news.

“There’s no official resignation yet, but [Zainudin] has informally conveyed [his intention to resign],” Jokowi said on Tuesday. “I will announce his replacement once he has tendered his official resignation.”

Having a foot in both politics and sports is not an unusual phenomenon in Indonesia. Many sports organizations choose government officials as leaders for their political connections and support.

Erick Thohir is the latest example of this practice. The state-owned enterprises (SOEs) minister took over the PSSI’s top post last week. Other names include Public Works and Housing (PUPR) Minister Basuki Hadimuljono, who leads the Indonesian Rowing Association; Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto, who chairs the national wushu governing body; Coordinating Maritime and Investment Affairs Minister Luhut Panjaitan in track and field; and Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto in pencak silat.

In the previous administration, then-trade minister Gita Wirjawan led the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI).

Strategically, involving government officials in sports federations is intended to help the sports develop and produce athletes who perform at international events.

Some say it is Indonesia’s shortcut to achieving sports glory. This seems to make sense because the country combines both state and private sector support.

China is a success story of this approach.  

President Jokowi has generally been supportive of the double jobs as long as the ministers are able to fulfill both roles effectively.

With the ambition of winning the right to host the 2046 FIFA World Cup, Erick took the PSSI chief post with full support from Zainuddin and the rest of the PSSI executives. 

But unlike Erick, Zainuddin’s entry into the PSSI would have smacked of conflicting interests if he remained the sports minister. It would be odd for minister Zainuddin, for example, to switch positions between his ministerial role, which oversees all sports, and his job as PSSI deputy chief.

For Zainuddin, the PSSI post will keep him in the spotlight for the next five years. As minister, his term was set to end when President Jokowi leaves office in October next year.

Working for a sports federation that has international reach such as the PSSI will give him another five years of influence.

The question now is who is eligible to fill the Cabinet position Zainuddin will vacate? Based on past practice, another Golkar politician will likely take over for him. And historically, the post has been given to a politician, except from 2004 to 2009.

During Soeharto’s era, Golkar politician Akbar Tanjung led the ministry from 1988 to 1993. Akbar’s successors were fellow Golkar politicians, Hayono Isman (1993-1998) and Mahadi Sinambela (1999-2000).

In 2009-2012, the post was held by Democratic Party politician Andi Mallarangeng, who resigned after he was named a graft suspect. Another Democratic Party politician, Roy Suryo, took over the post until the end of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s term as president in 2014.

Golkar lawmakers Achmad Doli Kurnia and Tubagus Ace Hasan Syadzily have been widely tipped as potential successors to Zainuddin. Whoever President Jokowi will appoint, he or she will bear the hefty responsibility of bringing our national sports to a higher level.