THE HISTORY OF FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION OF INDONESIA

• About PSSI

The Football Association of Indonesia (known as PSSI) was founded on April 19 th , 1930 at Yogyakarta . As a sport organization who founded in Dutch colonial period, PSSI also involves with political activities against the imperial. If we analysis the time before, present, and after it founded, until 5 year before the proclamation Independence of The Republic of Indonesia August 17 th , 1945, obviously that PSSI are founded by the nation politician who are against the colonialism and hope the nationalism spirit will influence the young Indonesian people.

• PSSI Begins

PSSI was founded by a civilian named Soeratin Sosrosoegondo. He finished his education at Heckelenburg Technical High School at German on 1927. When he comes back to Indonesia on 1928 he joined the “Sizten en Lausada” a Dutch company who based at Yogyakarta , which is he becomes the only Indonesian people who have a high position on that big Dutch contraction company. But, because the nationalism spirit on his self, Soeratin quitted from “Sizten en Lausada” and gave more attention on nationalism activities. As a young man who loved football, Soeratin realized to implement all the result from the Indonesian youth declaration on October 28 th , 1928. Soeratin thought that football as the best way to support the nationalism spirit to all the Indonesian young people as an act against the Dutch colonialism.

To make his dream come true Soeratin makes appointments with a football figures at Solo, Yogyakarta, and Bandung . That meeting was behind the Dutch policies monitoring. The meeting was held on small hotel, Binnenhof at Kramat 17 Jakarta, with Soeri – the head of VIJ (Voetbalbond Indonesische Jakarta) with the other fungsionaris. The idea to found the football association was concrete to create. That result also held at Bandung , Jogya and Solo who supported with a nationalism movement figures such as Daslam Hadiwasito, Amir Notopratomo, A Hamid, Soekarno (not Bung Karno), etc. Meanwhile at another city personal contact or curer was sender to socialization the meeting such as to Soediro at Magelang (the head of young association).

On April 19 th , 1930 was held the gathering of the football shape representative from VIJ (Sjamsoedin – RHS college student); the Bandoengsche Indonesische Voetbal Bond (BIVB) Representative, Gatot; The Mataram Football Association (PSM) Yogyakarta, Daslam Hadiwasito, A.Hamid, M. Amir Notopratomo; Vortenlandsche Voetbal Bond (VVB) Solo; Soekarno; Madioensche Voetbal Bond (MVB), Kartodarmoedjo; Indonesische Voetbal Bond Magelang (IVBM) E.A Mangindaan (on that time he still as a HKS student / Teaching School, also a captain from IVBM) who ordered by Soediro, Soerabajashe Indonesische Voetbal Bond (SIVB) represented by Pamoedji. From that assemble PSSI (Persatoean Sepakraga Seloeroeh Indonesia - The first PSSI congress was 1950 at Solo, which changed PSSI named into Persatuan Sepakbola Seluruh Indonesia and appointed Ir Soeratin as the first PSSI President) was founded.

After PSSI was founded, Soeratin and friends makes a program basically ‘against' the entire policies who taken by the colonial government by the NIVB. Called “the stridij program” to all bonden / united PSSI order to start the internal competition for the first level and second level, next it development to united championship who called “Steden Tournooi” which start on 1931 at Surakarta .

The nation football action who organize by PSSI, then follow by Susuhunan Paku Buwono X, the top and public figure in Solo who built the Sriwedari stadium complete with the lamp, so the appreciation for the “football resurrection” that movement by PSSI increase. That stadium officially opens on October 1933.

Further Soeratin also supported the founded of national sport association, so the power of Indonesia sport is more strength against the Dutch colonial dominated domains. On 1938 the ISI (Indonesian Sport Association) was founded which is next held the sport event (15-22 October 1938) at Solo.

Because the power and the unity of PSSI is more strength the NIVB was changed became NIVU (( Nederland 's Indische Voetbal UNie) on 1936 started from that moment PSSI and NIVU was cooperated. As a first step NIVU invited a team from Austria “Winner Sport Club “on 1936.

On 1938 on the name of Dutch East Indies , NIVU send a team to 1938 World Cup, but the players are from NIVU not from PSSI even there is 9 Indonesian/Tionghoa players. It is a protests act by Soeratin, because he wants a qualification match between PSSI and NIVU before they send their team beside the agreement between the two organizations, signed by Soeratin (PSSI) and Masterbroek (NIVU) on January 5 1937 at Jogyakarta. Soeratin also do not like if they use the NIVU flag, Nederland flag. On PSSI 1938 congress at Solo, Soeratin decided by his side to break the agreement.

Soeratin end his duty on PSSI since 1942, after becomes an honorary president on 1940 – 1941.

The arrival of Japanese soldier to Indonesia stops all the football activity and competition, because Japanese involves PSSI as a part of Tai Iku Kai, which is a Japanese sport association and next also became part of Gelora (1944) and became autonomy on PORI III congress at Jogyakarta (1949).

• The Development of PSSI

After Soeratin the national football is more develop even it is up and down on the player's quality, competition, and also on the organization. But as a people sport football is keep stand no matter what the condition PSSI from decade to another decade work to built up a national team which spend billion of rupiah, but unfortunately the result is not quite happy.

On it development PSSI already increases the type of competition which spread all over the country, such as:

• Premiere Division, followed by football club with non amateur players.
• First Division, followed by football club with non amateur players.
• Second Division; followed by football club with non amateur players.
• Third Division, followed by football club with amateur players.
• Age Group, followed by football club with players:
• Under aged 15 years (U-15)
• Under aged 17 years (U-17)
• Under aged 19 years(U-19)
• Under aged 23 years (U-23)
• Woman football
• Futsal

PSSI also shelter the games that consist of internal competition that held by the association or football club, the district organizer, region organizer which is scheduled on PSSI year calendar beside the PSSI annually program.

On the development PSSI already became FIFA members since November 1 st , 1952 on FIFA congress at Helsinki . After joined FIFA, PSSI also joined the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) on 1952, and became a pioneer founded of AFF (Asean Football Federation) on Kardono era; Kardono also became a vice president and for the next year became an honorary president.

On 1953 PSSI step forward as a legally organization with registered their organization to law and justice ministry and get legalization through settlement letter R.I No. J.A.5/11/6, on February 2 nd , 1953, state news on March 3 rd , 1953, no 18.

In the Asian Games Indonesia has finished at the top three times. They also qualified for the final
rounds of the Asian Cup 2000 & 2007.

The game has taken a dip recently, but the Indonesian Federation have introduced several programmes in an effort to give the game a shot in the arm.

Indonesia, one of the most populous nations in the world, has a very large pool of players, especially since the game is played extensively throughout the country. League matches in Indonesia also attract large crowds. Pelita Jaya is among the better known Indonesian clubs and has managed to reach the semifinals of the Asian Club Championships.
-Rezza Lubis for TOTAL FOOTBALL INDONESIA-