Clubs Await Improvements in Competition

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Mochammad Iriawan is elected chairman of Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) for the 2019-2023 term in an extraordinary congress at the Shangri La hotel in Jakarta on Saturday (2/11/2019). He garnered 82 of the 85 votes. The congress was marked by the walkout of six candidates for the PSSI chairmanship

BEKASI, KOMPAS – Local soccer clubs and players have high hopes that the 2019-2023 PSSI central management board will resolve persistent problems in national soccer competitions. These fixes are urgently needed, especially in match scheduling and regulations on calling players to join the national team roster. These were the two major issues, especially for clubs participating in the 2019 Shopee Liga 1.

The PSSI Extraordinary Congress in Jakarta on Saturday (2/11/2019) elected Mochamad Iriawan as PSSI chair for the 2019-2023 period. Iriawan won 82 out of 85 votes, with three of the remaining votes deemed invalid.

The extraordinary congress also elected two deputy chairs and 12 members of the executive committee. The two deputy chairs are Iwan Budianto and Cucu Somatri. Meanwhile, the executive committee members are AS Sukawijaya, Dirk Soplanit, Endri Erawan, Haruna Soemitro, Hasnuryadi Sulaiman, Pieter Tanuri, Sonhadji, Juni Rahman, Ahmad Riyadh, Yunus Nusi, Hasani Abdulgani and Vivin Cahyani.

If clubs in competition are weak, the national team will be nothing more than empty talk.

In the hands of this new PSSI management lies hopes and demands for immediate improvements to national soccer. Clubs appearing in Liga 1 are the most affected by the chaotic management of national soccer competition.

They often face uncertain schedules and match delays due to security issues. It is unsurprising that, in the Liga 1 temporary standings, one club has played in 26 matches while another only 24.

Calling on regional players to join the national training camp is also problematic, as competition still goes on even during international breaks or competitions in line with FIFA’s calendar. In Europe, premier leagues will be on vacation so that players can focus on strengthening their respective national teams. This does not happen in Indonesia.

Persija Jakarta soccer club coach Edson Tavares said national competition, in its current form, would never produce a good national team.

“If clubs in competition are weak, the national team will be nothing more than empty talk,” he said after Persija defeated Tira Persikabo, 2-0, in a Shopee Liga 1 match at Patriot Chandrabhaga Stadium in Bekasi on Sunday (3/11).

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Mochammad Iriawan (center), the chairman of Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) for the 2019-2023 term, and PSSI deputy chairmen CucuSomantri (second left) and Iwan Budianto (second right), pose for a photo with PSSI committee executives after being elected in an extraordinary congress at the Shangri La hotel in Jakarta on Saturday (2/11/2019).

Pessimistic

Tavares said he remained pessimistic after the PSSI elected its new chairman and executive members in its extraordinary congress in Jakarta on Saturday. “Honestly, I don’t have much hope. Nothing much will change,” he said.

Tira Persikabo coach Rahmad Darmawan shared Tavares’ sentiment, saying that he hoped the PSSI could improve the league schedules and regulation on calling players to join the national team.

“Honestly, that is my criticism. Players called upon to join the national team are needed by their clubs,” he said.

For the next season, we will coordinate with the police and anticipate simultaneous regional elections.

PT LIga Indonesia Baru president director and 2019-2023 PSSI executive committee member Dirk Soplanit said league schedules were arranged as best as possible to prevent conflicts with the national team’s interests. Schedule conflicts often occur as a number of leagues have failed to get permits due to security issues.

In the 2019 season, the league schedule was delayed from March to mid-May due to the presidential election. “For the next season, we will coordinate with the police and anticipate simultaneous regional elections,” Dirk said.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

SSB Oneway Soccer School match against SSB Pelita Jaya in Kompas Kacang Garuda U-14 League at GOR Ciracas Stadium, East Jakarta, Sunday (3/11/2019).

Young players

Apart from issues with competition and national team activities’ scheduling, the new PSSI management is also urged to put more attention on the development of young players.

Jakarta State University sports science lecturer Hadi Rahmadani, an activist in youth soccer education, said that the PSSI had minimal attention on soccer schools (SSB). Other than the Elite Pro Academy, the PSSI has no competition for players under 16 years old.

There is no support of facilities for these soccer schools. “This is despite these SSBs having produced many national players,” Hadi said.

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SSB Bina Taruna coach Dody Sahetapy said that the PSSI should give more attention to youth soccer players by adding more soccer fields.

“There is no use of having many talented youth players if there is no field for them to play. If necessary, the PSSI can ask the President for help in providing soccer fields,” he said.