Malang (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono opened the National Soccer Congress (KSN) 2010 hoping it would open a new page of the history of Indonesia`s soccer.
The President, flanked by his wife, Madame Ani Yudhoyono and a number of ministers including State Minister of Youth and Sports Andi Mallarangeng, Minister/State Secretary Sudi Silalahi, State Enterprises Minister Mustafa Abubakar, and East Java Governor Soekarwo, arrived at the Ken Arok Sports Hall Tuesday at 8.40 am local time.
The arrival of the Head of State and entourage was welcomed by tens of school children clad in their school uniform.
Later some 50 elementary (SD) and junior secondary school (SMP) students performed the Tari Topeng Malang "Singo-Singo" masked dance, depicting a herd of lions preparing for war. The lions are identical with members of the Malang soccer team, Arema, known as Singo Edan (Crazy Lions).
The occasion also saw the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the state enterprises ministry`s support to the national sports development by the State Minister for Youth and Sports and the State Enterprises Minister.
The opening of KSN 2010 was marked by the striking of a gong by the President, who was among others flanked by General Chairman of KSN 2010 Agum Gumelar.
KSN is an event in which the entire soccer world in Indonesia got together to seek a solution to the declining performance of Indonesian soccer.
The even was attended by at least 500 participants including members of the House of Representatives, the National Sports Council KONI, Association of Indonesian Journalists (PWI), government officials, soccer executives, soccer players and soccer enthusiasts.
All Indonesia Football Association (PSSI) Malang City General Chairman Peni Suparto last week said KSN was expected to give birth to a national soccer team which would become an "Asian Tiger".
He expressed concern with the current performance of Indonesian soccer which is practically "helpless" at ASEAN level.
Therefore, he added, the KSN would produce recommendations to improve the national soccer system and improve the performance of the national team in international events, especially in Asia.
Peni also said that the current PSSI management needs evaluation.
The idea to hold the KSN in Malang came from the President who was rather disappointed with the performance of the national soccer team which had been constantly declining, and even at ASEAN level, Indonesia could not do much.
Malang was chosen to host the event because the East Java tourist resort city managed to usher two national professional teams to the 2009/2010 LSI, and the achievement of Aremania (Arema`s supporters) which had been awarded the best supporter tile.
Later in the afternoon, the Head of State was slated to watch a football match between Arema Indonesia and North Jakarta Persitara at the Kanjuruhan stadium in Kepanjen, Malang.
For the love of the game: A soccer fan unfurls a banner of his favorite team at the opening ceremony of the National Soccer Congress [KSN] at Ken Arok Sports Hall in Malang, East Java, on Tuesday. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono opened the two-day congress, which is being held to resolve the problems surrounding Indonesian soccer. Around 500 participants attended the congress. Antara/Ari Bowo Sucipto
Related Articles:
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.