BLITAR – A KONI assets dispute has emerged in Blitar City after East Java KONI issued a decree confirming new leadership. The issue centers on a decision by former officials to place organizational assets under the custody of the city’s Youth and Sports Office (Dispora).
Newly elected KONI Blitar City chairman Samanhudi Anwar questioned the move. He argued that the assets should have gone directly to the incoming management team.
According to Samanhudi, KONI has used the assets for years to support sports programs and administrative activities. He said the transition process should transfer the equipment and facilities to the new leadership instead of a government office.
“In my view, the assets should go to the newly elected KONI chairman, not to Dispora,” he said.
The former mayor of Blitar explained that the local government signed the asset loan agreement with the KONI chairman. The agreement represents the organization, not the individual who holds the position.
Because of that arrangement, Samanhudi believes each leadership transition should include a direct transfer of responsibility for the assets.
“Mr. Karji signed the loan agreement as KONI chairman, not as a private citizen. Now there is a new chairman, so the assets should move to the new KONI leadership,” he said.
Samanhudi also questioned the decision to place the assets at the Youth and Sports Office. He said the agency focuses on sports development and athlete support rather than storing organizational property.
In his view, the arrangement creates an unnecessary administrative step for the new management.
“If I need to collect organizational assets from that office, it becomes unusual. Dispora is not a storage facility,” he said.
The dispute surfaced shortly after East Java KONI issued an official decree that confirmed the new management structure. The document formally recognized Samanhudi as chairman of KONI Blitar City.
Samanhudi said the new board will soon hold a plenary meeting. Members will discuss organizational priorities and administrative matters related to the transition.
The board will also prepare a report for East Java KONI. The report will form part of the formal administrative process following the leadership change.
“We will hold a plenary meeting in the near future,” Samanhudi said.
Previously, outgoing KONI Blitar City chairman Sukarji confirmed that officials had placed the assets under Dispora’s custody. He said they made the decision because the 2022-2026 management period ended on May 26.
The disagreement highlights questions about asset management during leadership transitions. It also shows the need for clear governance procedures within local sports organizations.
Local sports observers now await further discussions between the outgoing and incoming administrations regarding the future management of KONI assets in Blitar City.

