Vice Chairman of PSSI: Appointment of New Indonesia National Team Coach Must Go Through Exco Meeting

Vice Chairman of PSSI, Zainudin Amali, revealed that PSSI is currently searching for potential candidates for the Indonesia National Team coach. Head of PSSI’s National Team Body, Sumardji, has been tasked with meeting or interviewing several coaches in Europe. Afterwards, Sumardji will report the candidates he has met to other Exco members of PSSI.

‘Yes, currently Mr. Sumardji has been assigned because he is the Head of BTN. He is the one asked to meet and interview coach candidates. From there, nominations will emerge,’ said Amali.

‘I don’t know for sure (who the candidates are). He will depart to Europe. I also don’t know which country in Europe, but Mr. Sumardji will go there,’ he continued.

Furthermore, the former Minister of Youth and Sports emphasized that the selection of the Indonesia national senior team coach must comply with PSSI’s statutes, which stipulates that it must be done through an Exco meeting. Amali even mentioned that the selection of the Indonesia national team coach should no longer be done individually, as was the case with the appointment of Patrick Kluivert.

He cited the leadership of President Mochamad Iriawan, also known as Iwan Bule, as a good example before appointing Shin Tae-yong as the national team coach. ‘The important thing is for Mr. Sumardji to come first, then he must report to the Exco so that it does not happen again like the case of (appointing) Patrick Kluivert. The Exco requests that after that the names are submitted to the Exco, and the Exco has the right to interview. It’s just a normal procedure,’ Amali emphasized.

‘When Shin Tae-yong was appointed, it was the Exco who decided in the Exco meeting, not Mr. Iwan Bule (Mochamad Iriawan). Back then, there was Luis Milla and Shin Tae-yong, and through the Exco meeting it was decided that STY was chosen,’ he added.

‘I think it should be the same now. Mr. Sumardji does not have the authority to choose. He is only sent to interview, and then Mr. Sumardji must report to the Exco. The Exco will make the decision, and if anything happens, it is a collective responsibility. This organization is collegial and therefore regulated in the statutes,’ he concluded.