Courtesy: The Jakarta Post


Riau misses target on National Games futsal, shooting venues

by Rizal Harahap

The construction of several venues remains incomplete as the clock ticks toward the opening of the National Games (PON) in just one week.

The venues for archery, bowling, softball, baseball and rowing are still in the final stages of preparation, while the shooting range and futsal courts may remain unfinished by the time the Games officially start next Tuesday.

Pekanbaru is home to the venues for archery, bowling, softball, baseball, shooting, while Kuantan Singingi and Indragiri Hilir regencies will host rowing and futsal (indoor soccer), respectively.

Delays in the start of construction on the futsal and shooting venues is largely to blame for the current time crunch.

The shooting venue changed from its initial location on Jl. Yos Sudarso, Rumbai, Pekanbaru, to the Rumbai Sports Center, because of the former site’s close proximity to a vocational school, which rendered it “unsuitable”.

In an abrupt about-face, the shooting venue was moved back to its original site, which had been altered for the construction of another sporting venue, leading to budget problems.

Cost overruns in the construction of the shooting range have led the Corruption Eradication Comission (KPK) to investigate allegations of bribery, with 13 people, including 10 members of the Riau Legislative Council, having been named suspects.

The local legislators are alleged to have received Rp 900 million (US$94.033) in bribes for a revision of a 2010 bylaw on the shooting range’s construction that channeled Rp 20 billion in additional funds to the project, on top of the Rp 44 billion already allocated in 2010.

Dozens of Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel were helping with its construction, Antara news agency reported.

The PON committee’s director for infrastructure and facilities, Emrizal Pakis, said the shooting range would be ready for use despite its appearance.

“We consider it done because it’s 95 percent complete, although it’s not completely neat,” he told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

Secretary of the Indonesian Shooting Association’s (PERBAKIN) Riau chapter, Sudarman Umar, agreed with Emrizal, saying “everything is on track”.

As for the futsal arena, the Indragiri Hilir Council initially rejected a proposal to use funds from the regental budget to build the facility.

The construction of the futsal arena is so far only 77 percent complete and is unlikely be ready on time.

According to the schedule, the arena will be used for the first time on Thursday for a Group A qualifying match between Central Java and Papua.

The façade of the venue is barely finished, while on the inside, the roof has been set in place. Further work is needed to install fences in front of the stands, electricity and loud speakers, as well as to apply finishing touches to the athletes’ locker rooms.

The walls inside the building have yet to be painted, and a large hole remains between the north wall and the roof, which the committee decided to cover with a giant banner that reads “Welcome, Champions”.

A number of contingents, including those from West Java and South Kalimantan, have criticized the organizer’s stop-gap solution, saying that sunshine could still penetrate the banner and distract players.

One of the goals is situated directly beneath the hole and sunlight may interrupt matches, all of which will be held in the afternoon.

Indragiri Hilir regental secretary Alimuddin said the committee would cover the hole at the futsal venue with tarpaulin.

“I’m optimistic the Games will run smoothly. Several contingents have seen the futsal venue and they said they had no problem with it,” he said.

Emrizal said the futsal venue was previously categorized as “critical” because of construction difficulties associated with building the arena on a swamp.

“But it can be used. Some teams have already tried it and there were no problems,” he said.




Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com