If Pelita Bandung Raya were to be bought out by an Arab sheikh, appoint Jose Mourinho as coach and sign Gareth Bale, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo they would struggle to make an impact at the gate.
In recent years Pelita Jaya in the ISL and Bandung FC in the LPI have tried to muscle in on the city of Bandung and have not only failed to make an impact; they have failed to last.
SAFFC - The Warriors Geylang United - Geylang International Thai Port - Port Lions Pelita Jaya - Pelita Bandung Raya (Pelita Jaya bought out by Bandung Raya) Johor FC - Johor Darul Tazkim
I've always felt kind of sorry for Rahmat Affandi. The striker is a victim of an Indonesian league
that is reluctant to really trust in young players. Yes, one or two do breakthrough; Boas Solossa,
Okta Maniani, Yongki Aribowo and Megia Kurnia spring to mind but for those names there are a score
that don't.
Sriwijaya v Persela 3-0 ( M Ridwan 2, Keith Kayamba Gumbs) 25,553
Persipura v Persisam 3-1 (Gerald Pangkali, Yohanes Tjoe, Ian Louis Kabes; Christian Gonzales)
1,100
Persidafon v Mitra Kukar 2-1 (Patrick Wanggai, Yohanes Pahabol; Jajang Mulyana) 8,540
Sriwijaya were crowned champions after brushing aside Persela yesterday.
The new leadership at the Indonesian Football Association, PSSI, promised they would change the
game when they took over. They promised a new era of openness and professionalism and they would do
their best to improve Indonesia's standing in the world game.
Gone are the days of tedious months long preparations for international tournaments interspersed
with promises of friendlies against Argentina and Ivory Coast, delivering friendlies against Pelita
Jaya Under 23s or the Army team.
Safee Sali has extended his deal with Pelita Jaya, reportedly making him the highest paid player in
ASEAN in the process. There had been a feeling that Safee, under pressure from the Malaysian FA to
play for a club in a recognised league, would return to Malaysia or even sign for a Thai team but I
understand Muang Thong United baulked at his wage demands.
Indonesia Super League
Persib v PSAP 1-1 (Maman Abdurahman; You Wook Jin) 20,187Pelita Jaya v PSMS 2-2 (Safee Sali, Alex
Bajevski; Zulkarnain, Arie Supriyatna) 3,530Persiwa v Deltras 2-1 (Eddy Foday Boakay 2; Qischil
Minny) 12,537Persipura v Persidafon 3-1 (Ricardo Salempessy, Boas Solossa, Alberto Goncalves;
Patrick Wanggai) 18,352
Disappointing afternoon for the West Java sides with both Persib and Pelita Jaya taking the lead
and losing it at home.
After sensationally walking out on Pelita Jaya last Friday, Indonesian international Diego Michiels
has reported to have signed for Persija, the version playing in the officially recognised Indonesia
Premier League.
He said he quit Pelita Jaya, who play in the unofficial Indonesia Super League because he was
worried about his place in the international team following announcements from the PSSI, the FA,
that only players with IPL teams could be called up.
Diego Michiels was one of the handful of players brought over by the Indonesian Football
Association (PSSI) to add some zest to what had become a predictable national team.
With an Indonesian father, Michiels was eligible and to press his claims he gave up his career in
the Netherlands, where he played for Go Ahead Eagles, and was snapped up by Pelita Jaya.
A late penalty for home team in Balikpapan helped Persiba claw back a two goal deficit. Persija
complained long and hard but they should also take a good look at themselves for their marking, or
lack thereof, that allowed the equaliser deep in injury time.
And just now we witnessed Arema scoring a late winner against Pelita Jaya.
A rare event for fans of Persija this weekend. They get to see a play in the proper stadium. Sunday
sees them away to Arema, struggling this season, and normally, given the love in between both sets
of supporters, a large crowd would be expected.
But Arema ain't doing too well and are second bottom of the table.
The two top teams met last weekend as did two of the biggest teams and given the Javan centric
nature of the country the focus was obviously on Persib and Persija. Played at the Jalak Harapat
Stadium in front of 30,000 fanatic Bobotoh the hosts scraped through 1-0 thanks to a controversila
first half pen by Miljan Radovic, his fifth goal of the season.
The Malaysian Football Association are worrying about the on going crisis in Indonesian football.
Specifically they are concerned that they may not be able to call up their striker Safee Sali who
plays for Pelita Jaya in the ISL.
FIFA only recognises the Indonesia Premier League and they have said that players who play in any
non recognised leagues will not be eligible for national team call up.
Ever wondered why Malaysia keep winning trophies regionally? After playing Arsenal and Manchester
City they will be sending a squad to Austria to climb some mountains and blow some alpenhorns.
Goalkeepers: Norazlan Razali (Selangor), Farizal Marlias (Negeri Sembilan), Khairul Fahmi Che Mat
(Kelantan)
Keeper: Khairul Fahmi Che Mat (Kelantan), Sharbinee Allawee Ramli (Terengganu), Farizal
Marlias (Negri Sembilan)
Defence: Amirizwan Taj Tajuddin, Azmi Muslim, Aidil Zafuan Abdul Razak (semua ATM), Mahali
Jasuli, Fadhli Shas (both Harimau Muda A), Asraruddin Putra Omar, Bunyamin Umar (Selangor), Faizal
Muhammad (Terengganu), Sabre Mat Abu (Kedah), S.
It's been a good while since any Indonesian played overseas. A few dipped their tootsies in the
Malaysian league before all foreigners were banned from there but for an Indonesian to play in
Malaysia is like an Englishman playing in Scotland. Yeah, the language differs a little but it's
not great leap into the unknown.
Like Indonesia, Thai players rarely stay anywhere for any length of time. Thanks to the bloody
excellent Thai Fussball here are some familiar names on the move.
Muang Thong United have shifted striker Christian Kouakou. He has signed for Tours who are not a
travel company but play in France.
I lost count of how many times Persija were forced to play outside of their Bung Karno Stadium so
here are the facts.
Manahan Stadium, Solo v Persela & Persija Mandala Krida Stadium, Yogyakarta v Persipura & Persiwa Kanjuruhan Stadium, Malang v Pelita Jaya Segiri Stadium, Samarinda v PSPS PTIK Stadium, Jakarta v Persiram
That, and the fact that two games were played behind closed doors (PSPS and Persiram) means Persija
averaged just 9,255 per home game.
Last week we saw Greg Nwoklo, Pelita Jaya striker, spitting the dummy with the ref after his team
had conceded a controversial , late goal away to Arema. His team lost 3-2.
This week he was protecting the ref after his team, and him, were the beneficiaries of a late,
controversial goal in the 3-2 win over ISL champions Persipura.
You just know it's gonna be bad when you see perennial bench warmer Boy Jati starting up front
alongside a new signing.
This hasn't been the greatest of seasons for Arema and this 2-1 defeat away to Pelita Jaya was just
about right. Forget the fact that the two teams are to all intents and purposes owned by the same
people, Arema are a poor team.
Indonesia Super League
Persisam v Pelita Jaya 1-4 (Eka Ramdani; Bajevski, Safee Sali, Greg Nwokolo 2)Persidafon v Arema
2-1 (Patrick Wanggai, Marcello Cirelly; Marcio Souza)
Safee Sali's fifth goal of the season took Pelita Jaya up to 6th place, leapfrogging Persisam who
suffered their first home defeat of the season.
Unlike the English Premier League where foreigner owners are seemingly queuing up to buy teams, in Indonesia no one wants to invest serious money in anything beyond a shopping mall or condominium.
Last week Pelita Jaya was sold to Bandung Raya. Now the erstwhile are back in football having bought Arema.
Pelita Jaya's biggest home crowd for many a year saw them beaten 3-1 by Persib. Ok, the game was
played at Jalak Harupat which is Persib's home stadium but it used to be Pelita Jaya's though when
they played there they struggled to attract fans in what is staunch Persib territory.
The game was moved from Pelita Jaya's usual home stadium of Singaperbangsa in Karawang probably
because that stadium would not have been able to handle the travelling support and that makes two
consecutive home games played ‘away' from home; they hosted Persija in Solo for the same
reason.
One of the great bane's of Indonesian football is that some teams face big problems find a place to
play their home games. Persija are a case in point. They will play Persiwa and Persipura in
Yogyakarta while their normal home base, the Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta, is being renovated.
Meanwhile the West Java Derby between Pelita Jaya and Persib will be played at the Jalak Harapat
Stadium in Soreang making it in effect a Persib home game.
Indonesia Super League
Persiram v Gresik United 1-1 (JP Boumsong; Gaston Castano) 75 (Played 16/1 at Lebak Bulus,
Jakarta)Persisam v Persib 2-1 (Yongki, Jerry; M Ilham) 13,743Mitra Kukar v Pelita Jaya 1-0 (Hamka
Hamzah) 7,000 Divisi Utama
Persiku v Persitema 3-0 (Agus Santiko 2, Peter Kuoh) 6,764 Malaysia Super League
Felda United v Selangor 1-0LionsX11 v KL 2-1 (OG, Shahdan Sulaiman; Fazuan Abdullah)Sarawak v
Terengganu 0-1Perak v Negeri Sembilan 2-1PKNS v Kedah 0-0Kelantan v Johor FC 2-1T Team v Sabah
0-0
1 - T Team 3 2 1 0 6-0 72 - Kelantan 3 2 1 0 5-3 7
