The PSSI is set to hold its 2023 extraordinary congress on (16/2/2023). In the midst of rivalries among candidates for the association’s chairman position, the PSSI is facing mounting tasks to accomplish this year.
By
M IKHSAN MAHAR, NINA SUSILO, I GUSTI AGUNG BAGUS ANGGA PUTRA, ADRIAN FAJRIANSYAH
·5 minutes read
NINA SUSILO
Vice President Ma'ruf Amin hopes that PSSI will be led by a 'ball man', a figure who not only understands Indonesian football but has the attention, strategy and passion to advance Indonesian football. This was conveyed by the Vice President after planting camphor trees at the Barus Grand Mosque, Central Tapanuli Regency, North Sumatra, Wednesday (15/2/2023).
JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Today’s gathering may be the defining moment for the future of national soccer. With the work programs offered by the four chairman candidates relatively similar, the PSSI's journey for the next four years will partly weigh on the proven record of new chairman.
Vice President Ma'ruf Amin expressed his hope that the next PSSI chairman not only understand soccer problems but also is committed to bringing national soccer forward. "[It should be] a figure who understands, has the desire, has the passion to build soccer in Indonesia," he said at the Barus Grand Mosque in Central Tapanuli, North Sumatra, on Wednesday (15/2/2023).
The Vice President referred to this ideal figure as a "ball man" whom the country needs to fix the problems and optimize the management of national soccer. “Among [Indonesia’s population of] 270 million, there are many talented seeds, who may not have been explored properly. There needs to be a management that has the attention, strategy, enthusiasm," the Vice President said.
Fierce rivalries for the PSSI’s top position have already developed in the lead up to the gathering. For the 2023-2027 PSSI chairmanship, the election appeals committee issued a fixed list of five chairman candidates on 6 Jan. They were La Nyalla Mattalitti, Arif Putra Wicaksono, Doni Setiabudi, Erick Thohir and Fary Djemy Francis.
However, only four candidates remain in the contest, following Fary’s official resignation announcement on Wednesday. Not only the chairman position, he has also abandoned his running for vice chairman and member of the PSSI executive committee (Exco).
Meanwhile, Erick told Kompas on Wednesday night that the PSSI extraordinary congress was a big opportunity to restart building Indonesian soccer. He said the 2023-2027 PSSI management board would have to fulfill the demand for optimal performance in the face of a pile of tasks this year. Those tasks include the preparation for the 2023 U-20 World Cup, which has three months left, running all three tiers in the soccer leagues, revamping the refereeing board and stepping up education for supporters.
ADRYAN YOGA PARAMADWYA
SOE Minister Erick Thohir (left) accompanied by Main Director Persis Solo Kaesang Pangarep (right) delivered a press statement after submitting the registration file for the candidate for the PSSI Chairperson for the 2023-2027 period at the PSSI Office, GBK Arena, Jakarta, Sunday (15/1/2023).
Erick pledged his commitment and promised to immediately carry out these tasks if he was elected as the 18th chairman of the PSSI. ”With all my humility, I am ready to help Indonesian soccer. I have shown this commitment when I helped lift the 2015 PSSI sanction and when Kanjuruhan [disaster] occurred I asked FIFA to come to Indonesia," said Erick, who met FIFA president Gianni Infantino on 6 Oct. 2022 in Doha.
The state-owned enterprises (SOEs) minister added, "If elected, I need the support and trust of all parties, such as the soccer community, the government and FIFA, to overcome the complex challenges and continue the soccer transformation mandated by FIFA."
Regarding his planned national soccer transformation, he said FIFA would soon have a representative office in Indonesia to ensure that Indonesia’s soccer development policy was on track in the aftermath of the Kanjuruhan stadium tragedy in Malang, East Java. Management improvements would be crucial to preventing a repeat of the disaster, he said.
The election floor features a total of 87 voters, who will determine the 2023-2027 PSSI management board. They consist of 34 PSSI provincial chapters, 18 clubs in League 1 2021-2022, 16 clubs in League 2 2021-2022, 16 clubs in League 3 2021-2022, three associations under the PSSI, namely the Indonesian Futsal Federation, the Indonesian Soccer Coaches Association and the Indonesian Women's Soccer Association.
The gathering sees La Nyalla back in contention for the PSSI’s helm after his brief stint from 2015 to 2016. He has called for all 87 voters at the gathering to instill a spirit of reforming the organization and national soccer.
“The voters who cast their ballots for me must show they really want to improve the governance of Indonesian soccer. I hope they choose with conscience, without any vested interest outside soccer," he said.
He brushed aside the notion about him being part of the past soccer regime, denouncing it as irrelevant. He said the most important thing was a good track record, vision and ideas. “All these things inhibit me. Figures from the previous regime coming back with [proven] bad track records have no place at the PSSI. On the other hand, those with a good track record are welcome," he said.
Meanwhile, while hoping that the gathering could run well and smoothly, Arif appealed to voters to choose PSSI Exco members who were expected to be able to work independently without conflict of interest as a show of commitment to improve national soccer.
NASRUN KATINGKA
The candidate for general chairman of PSSI, La Nyalla Mahmud Mattalitti talking with the media after meeting with PSSI Asprov representatives in Jakarta, Tuesday (7/2/2023).
Support for Erick
Withdrawing from the PSSI Exco nomination, Fary declared his support for Erick, saying the former president of the Italian club Inter Milan envisioned a program that could answer the challenges faced by the PSSI and Indonesian soccer.
"I have high hopes for Pak Erick because of his proven working hours. He is a great figure, thinker and professional," he said.
As for Doni, despite his contention for the PSSI chairmanship, the pioneer of the Bandung Premier League did not miss offering compliments to Erick, saying that the SOEs minister had integrity and the capacity to accomplish his next job regarding national soccer.
"Hopefully, I can join Pak Erick's board, which will carry the new faces for changes in soccer," said Doni, who is also vying for the position of deputy chairman and a place in Exco.
Announcing all was in place for the gathering, the PSSI’s outgoing chairman M Iriawan hoped his successor would win the trust of voters and the public alike.
"To the next chairman, I advise you to never get tired of taking care of soccer. I hope soccer leagues can improve the [sport’s] professionalism, including the referees. I'm sure the golden age [of Indonesian soccer] is coming," he said.
Save Our Soccer coordinator Akmal Marhali has warned the voting body against favoring an administrator who is looking to profit and make the PSSI a mere springboard for personal ambitions.
