Edy replaced La Nyalla Mattalitti and the current executive board members were dominated by new figures.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The All-Indonesia Football Association (PSSI) successfully held its congress in Jakarta on Thursday by electing new chairman Edy Rahmayadi who is an Army three-star general.

The 55-year old general, will lead the countrys soccer governing body from 2016 to 2020.

Edy Rahmayadi, who is concurrently chief of the Armys Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad), collected 76 votes in the one round election, followed by Moeldoko (former military commander) with 23 votes, Eddy Rumpoko got one vote and there were seven invalid votes.

The election process was led by chairman of the election committee Agum Gumelar (former transportation minister).

"I, hereby, declare the election results as legitimate," Agum, who was once former chairman of the PSSI, disclosed.

Edy replaced La Nyalla Mattalitti and the current executive board members were dominated by new figures.

Although Edy has the experience of managing two soccer clubs namely PSMS Medan (in North Sumatra) and PS TNI (Indonesias military soccer club), he is considered a new figure in the governing body.

Meanwhile, two deputy chairmen of the PSSI are Joko Driyono (CEO of PT Liga Indonesia) and Iwan Budianto (CEO of Arema Cronus). They are also new figures in the governing body.

In addition, there are only two of 12 executive committee (Exco) members who are mentioned as the old figures. These are Gusti Randa and Johar Lin Eng.

The other ten members of the Exco are Hidayat (owner of main division team "Divisi Utama Persebo Bondowoso"), Yunus Nusi (chairman of "Asprov Kalimantan Timur" in East Kalimantan), Condro Kirono (high ranking official of Bhayangkara United team), Pieter Tanuri (ranking official of Bali United).

Juni A Rachman, from the PSPS Pekanbaru club, AS Sukawijaya/Yoyok Sukawi (ranking officials of PSIS Semarang team), Johar Lin Eng (chairman of Asprov Jawa Tengah), Refrizal (Semen Padang club), Dirk Soplanit (from Asprov Maluku), Verry Mulyadi (from Asprov West Sumatra) and Papat Yunisal (former player of the women national team) are the others.

The PSSI is now facing a very great challenge, Edy stated after winning the election, and added that there must be a cooperation between all the officials and national football men to face the challenge.

"We are facing the (competition of) AFF Cup as well as the SEA Games in 2017, Asian Games 2018, including World Cup qualification," he reminded, adding that togetherness among the PSSI board members should also be maintained.

The new PSSI chairman also promised to bring dignity to this soccer organization to improve the condition of the countrys football teams.

The challenges of the PSSI in the future are very heavy, Edy admitted. However, he was ready to devote himself in restoring the glory of national football, he said and added that a lot of homework needs to be done, he stressed.

In addition to the internal problems of the countrys football federation, many international championships are also the current challenge which should be tackled.

With regard to the upcoming competition of AFF Cup, the countrys national team (Timnas) will leave for Manila, in the Philippines on November 17, 2016.

Eight teams are expected to play in the AFF championship which will be held in Myanmar and the Philippines from November 19 to December 17, 2016.

In the meantime, chairman of the election committee Agum Gumelar expressed the hope that all board members of the PSSI can immediately carry out their jobs and work hard to generate the countrys football achievements.

Apart from that, Youth and Sports Affairs Minister Imam Nahrawi also urged all figures of the PSSI board members to be consistent in running the regulations related to football branch.

PSSI was established on April 19, 1930 in Yogyakarta, when Indonesia was still under Dutch rule.

Youth and Sports Affairs Ministry also asked the PSSI to be transparent in running the financial affairs.

"PSSI often receives the spotlight on financial accountability, for both, its financial report as well as its distribution to the clubs," the ministry reminded.

The previous chairmen of PSSI are as follows.

Soeratin Sosrosoegondo (1930-1940), Artono Martosoewignyo (1941-1949), Maladi (1950-1959), Abdul Wahab Djojohadikoesoemo (1960-1964), Maulwi Saelan (1964-1967), Kosasih Poerwanegara (1967-

1974), Bardosono (1975-1977), Moehono (1977), Ali Sadikin (1977-1981), Sjarnoebi Said (1982-1983), Kardono (1983-1991), Azwar Anas (1991-1999), Agum Gumelar (1999-2003), Nurdin Halid (2003-1 April 2011), Agum Gumelar (1 April 2011-9 July 2011), Djohar Arifin Husin (2011- 2015), La Nyalla Mattalitti (not approved by government - April 18, 2015), Hinca Panjaitan (acting chairman up to August 3, 2016). (*)

Reporter: Bustanuddin
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016