FIFA may have suspended the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) after the government tried to meddle in the nation’s footballing affairs, but it seems the Ministry of Youth and Sports (Kemenpora) are actually intent on reforming sepak bola in Indonesia.
For that, the ministry created a transition team tasked with taking over the PSSI for the time being. And to show that, they’re trying to get a consultant for the transition team who is no stranger to football fans worldwide: Dutch legend Frank Rijkaard.
“It’s true, we’re communicating with the KNVB (Dutch Football Association) as well as global football figures there like Ruud Gullit, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, and Frank Rijkaard. But Frank Rijkaard is the only one who might be available,” said Cheppy T Wartono, member of Kemenpora’s transition team, as quoted by Liputan 6 yesterday.
“He (Frank Rijkaard) will be our football consultant. He can help set up the road map and supervise its implementation.”
The transition team plans to hold a new tournament, the Kemerdekaan Cup, in place of PSSI’s Indonesian Super League. The tournament is scheduled to start after Eid Al Fitr in July.
Frank Rijkaard is one of the most decorated former players/managers in world football. He has won numerous domestic and European titles as a player, and more recently won the UEFA Champions League as manager of FC Barcelona in 2006.
Would a man with such an impressive résumé be able to help Indonesian football climb out of the ditch they’ve dug themselves into?
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