BLITAR – KONI Blitar grant funds remain partially frozen as uncertainty surrounding the organization’s new leadership continues to delay sports development programs and athlete funding in Blitar City.
The budget issue emerged after the city’s KONI leadership transition following the recent regional sports council meeting, known as Musorkot. The previous management has officially ended its term, while the newly elected board has not yet received full legal recognition.
As a result, funding distribution for sports training, athlete development, and tournament participation has stalled since early this year. Local officials now fear the delay could disrupt grassroots sports programs and athlete preparation across multiple disciplines.
Acting Head of the Blitar City Youth and Sports Agency, Heru Eko Pramono, said authorities only released limited operational funding during the first budget phase.
“We allocated around Rp 300 million for urgent operational expenses such as electricity, telephone, internet, water bills, security staff salaries, and the recent Musorkot event,” Heru said on Wednesday.
According to him, the government prioritized essential office operations to keep organizational activities running during the transition period.
Meanwhile, most of the KONI Blitar grant funds still remain on hold. Officials continue waiting for legal clarity regarding the new management structure.
“For the remaining budget, including athlete development and sports events, we are still waiting for the final organizational process,” he explained.
Heru added that authorities may revise the funding distribution mechanism. Officials want to ensure all disbursement procedures follow government regulations and remain legally safe.
The city government is also considering direct funding for each sports branch. The plan could replace the current centralized distribution system through KONI management.
Despite the administrative problems, the Youth and Sports Agency promised to keep athlete training programs active. Officials stressed that organizational conflict should not affect local athletes.
“We will continue supporting sports activities and athlete development programs. We do not want the current situation to disrupt training,” Heru said.
Earlier this year, KONI Blitar proposed a total budget of Rp 2.8 billion for 2026. Around 70 percent of the proposed funds would support athlete coaching and sports development programs.
However, the proposed budget marked a sharp decline compared with last year’s allocation. In 2025, KONI Blitar received around Rp 4.25 billion in grant funding.
Former KONI Blitar chairman Sukardji previously confirmed the reduced proposal before his term officially ended.