Memories Of Zainudin Amali Becoming Menpora: Having An Unforgettable Moment With The Late Bob Hasan

JAKARTA - Zainudin Amali officially resigned his position as Minister of Youth and Sports (Menpora). He has undergone a handover ceremony with Muhadjir Effendy who was appointed as the executor of the task.

In the event which took place at Wisma Kemenpora, Senayan on Thursday, March 16, Zainudin Amali shared his experience while serving as Menpora for the 2019-2023 period. Amali revealed that the incident did not wear, starting from being underestimated to being bullied.

At the beginning of his career as Menpora, Zainudin Amali was attacked by many oblique comments. A number of sports also had doubts about his performance.

"At the beginning (becoming Menpora) the world of sports immediately invaded me. I read the newspaper was hard news. Finally, there was a sport that underestimated me," he said.

He said that strong criticism made him have to prove himself with a good approach. He then went to the sports one by one, starting from athletics under the management of PB PASI.

When he arrived, Amali was greeted by the late Bob Hasan who at that time served as Chairman of PB PASI. But when he arrived, Amali admitted that he was scolded by the late Bob Hasan.

"I visited one by one (the sport), the first time I visited was the late Bob Hasan, one hour I was scolded by him," said Amali.

"But then the deceased said, 'You're great I didn't react to anything, you were the first minister to approach me'," he explained recalling.

Another experience that Amali remembered when he visited PB PASI at the beginning of his position as Menpora was when he was insinuated by Bob Hasan. It happened because when he visited the Athletics sport, Amali instead appeared in the Ligue 1 club jersey, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).

"Initially I went to PB PASI and was also insinuated because I used the PSG jersey. Finally I bought a jersey for the Indonesian national team," he said.

"I was then also given a shirt from Erick Thohir, the former Asian Games. Finally I used it. I wore it-that's just the jersey, because I was bullied," said Amali.

Zainudin Amali's decision to resign from the position of Minister of Youth and Sports was not without reason. The man who was born in Gorontalo intends to focus on managing football after being officially appointed as Deputy General Chairperson (waketum) of PSSI, accompanying Erick Thohir as Chairman of PSSI for the period 2023-2027.