REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - Contrary to public expectations, the visiting acting President of AFC Zhang Jilong seems failing to solve rivalry in Indonesian football associations, Indonesian Football Federation (PSSI) and Indonesian Soccer Rescue Committee (KPSI). KPSI rejected Zhang’s idea of consolidation between their leagues, Indonesian Premier League (IPL) and Indonesia Super League (ISL).

Member of KPSI executive committee, Djamal Aziz, admitted such gesture. “Obviously, we were asked to (consolidate -Ed). Of course we reject the idea,” he said on Friday.

During his visit on Thursday, Zhang asked KPSI to dismiss LSI then subordinate itself under PSSI flag. Such measure, Zhang cited, was in line with PSSI’s road map to league unification in 2014.    

According to Aziz, football clubs in LSI only recognize KPSI in which was established at an extraordinary convention in Ancol, not PSSI. Aziz cited, more than two third of 572 members has filed no confident motion against PSSI led by Arifin. Aziz claimed, Zhang could understand KPSI’s reasons behind their rejection to consolidate between LSI and LPI.

Another topic discussed during the meeting with Zhang is the possibility of LSI players to join Indonesian football team which is coordinated under PSSI. 

Aziz said that PSSI no longer had the mandate to manage national team due to the no confidence motion. Instead, KPSI warned off that national team should have been managed by a neutral body. 

“Once the Indonesian national team is handed over to a neutral body, then we will allow LSI players to join,” Aziz explained the gist of discussion with Zhang.

Zhang Jilong, visited Indonesia and met with PSSI and KPSI in Indonesian Olympics Committee (KOI) office on Thursday. PSSI was represented by Djohar Arifin, Sihar Sitorus, Bob Hippy, Halim Mahfudz, dan Finanta Rudy, while Djamal Aziz, Togar Manahan Nero, Joko Driyono, dan Tigor Shalomboboy represented KPSI.

"Indonesian football will be united in one competition," Zhang said after the meeting, adding that Indonesian football had a bright future because Indonesian people loved football.

Meanwhile, Arifin claimed that Zhang fully supported PSSI to carry out the reconciliation. 

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