Persib Bandung's first home game of the season tomorrow night sees them up against Pelita Jaya at the Jalak Harupat Stadium in Soreang.
Persib have lost both their games so far this season and they will welcome Sinthaweechai 'Kosin' Hathairatnakul back on a loan spell while fellow Thai international Suchao Nuchnam will also get his first run out. Click to continue reading...

Pelita Jaya have announced the signing of Yuthajak Konjan. The former national team player will be among familiar faces as he was part of the 2003 Thai SEA Games squad that also featured Kosin Hatairatkul (Persib) and Phaitoon Thiabma (Persijap).
In the 2009 Thai Premier League the midfielder played for PEA and was a part of their AFC Cup run. Click to continue reading...

Sriwijaya have still not been able to pay their players and figure they will be unable to do so until they bank the gate reciepts from their home game against Pelita Jaya on 21 November. The Vice President Finance of the club says he understands the players' concerns but calls on them to be 'professional'. Click to continue reading...

Bontang v Persiba 0-0
Persiba missed the chance to go to the top of the ISL after they could only draw against Bontang who have already played seven games this season and have yet to win.
Daniel Roekito's men have played three away games this season so far and have picked up two points on their travels. Click to continue reading...

He may have changed his name to Sinthawechai but to thousands of Persib fans he will always be Kosin. And three years after his first spell with the Bandung club the Thai international keeper is back.
Yesterday was his first days training back in Bandung and the Persib faithful filled the club's base at Persib Stadium to catch sight of their prodigal son's return. Click to continue reading...

There are, to paraphrase some numpty, few certainties in life. Death of course is one. Stupid people with loud shirts on airplanes another and not forgetting boring soap operas.
But here in Indonesia we have another, uniquelly Indonesia certainty. Changes to the fixture list.
I've not detailed the ones that have happened so far, Persija and Persitara have had games rearranged, but now I will. Click to continue reading...

Heartbreak for Fandi Ahmad's Young Guns as the same old problems from last season returned to haunt them in their first home game of the new season.
Things started brightly enough for Pelita Jaya as they took the lead through their new signing, Colombian international Edison Fonseca, in the first minute but from then on it was same old, same old for Pelita Jaya as they failed to capitalise. Click to continue reading...

During my chat with Persija midfielder Mustafic Fahruddin we got talking about the number of players from the former Yugoslavia in this part of the world. In Singapore there is of course Aleksander Duric as well as coach Raddy Avramovic and Woodlands Wellington coach Nenad Bacina.
DPMM had Ivan Jerkovic who also played with Pelita Jaya while Bojak had a long career in Singapore and most recently was coaching My Team in Malaysia
In Indonesia there is Mijo at Persiba while Robbie Gaspar, Mijo's former team mate and now with Persema, has Croatian ancestry. Click to continue reading...

They got relegated last season. But it was only 2006 when PSIS were puching Persik Kediri all the way for the Indonesian title. But the days of I Koman Putra, Harry Salisbury, Gustavo Hernan Ortiz and Emmanuel de Porras are nowt but a distant memory for the fans of the PSIS who next season will line up in the Premier League, Indonesia's second tier. Click to continue reading...

Launching is when football clubs here in Indonesia kind of open themselves up to the fans. It's like an open day.
Yesterday Arema Malang had their launching and such is the enthusiasim ahead of the new season some 15,000 fans joined the party.
New coach Robert Alberts has brought back the enthusiasm to the team known as the Crazy Lions with some high profile signings like Singapore duo Noh Alam Shah and Muhamed Riduan. Click to continue reading...

Pelita Jaya coach Fandi Ahmad, who knows a thing or two about Singapore football, is interested in SAF player Masahiro Fukasawa.
Good headline innit? Sod all to do with the story. Learnt that technique from The Sun in the UK... Click to continue reading...

If it's your thing Arema today announced who will wear what shirt. Noh Alam Shah wears 9, Riduan gets 99 and Indonesia's first choice goalkeeper Markus gets number 1.
Roman Chmelo, who was coming, going or staying at home working on his stamp collection depending on who you were listening to at the time, wears 22. Click to continue reading...

There's no stablity in Indonesian football and in most clubs a lack of any kind of long term planning. It's not uncommon for two sides, successful in one season, to really struggle the next as management twiddle their thumbs and refuse to address the squad until the last possible moment.
At the end of the 2007 season PSMS finished 3rd in the old style Liga Indonesia Western Division, earning a place in the play offs. Click to continue reading...

While Indonesia football may plagued by a surfeit of problems at least they can be confidant that in one area they are blessed. Between the sticks they have a number of goalkeepers who must be the envy of many a neighbouring country. Hendro Kartiko of Persija, Dian Agus at Pelita Jaya, Achmad Kurniawan and Markus Horison at Persik. Click to continue reading...

Last week's earth quake in West Java may impact Persib's plans for next season. This report says the stadium in Soreang suffered some structrural damage and could weel need repairing.
Persikab, who share the stadium, should be ok 'cos they only have a few fans.
In other stadium news, Pelita Jaya have lined up Lebak Bulus Stadium in South Jakarta as an alternative in case their first choice, Singaperbangsa Stadium, isn't ready in time. Click to continue reading...

Fortune favours the brave. Rather than sitting down and licking its paws in impotent rage as one by one the star names leave Singapore football, surely this is an opportunity for clubs there to re-evaluate themselves and think afresh.
And that means not just whinging because some players are leaving. Click to continue reading...

Journeyman Liberian striker Frank Seator has signed for Al Orouba Sports Club in Oman. Hence the headline...geddit?
Interesting quotes, especially this pearler "We have followed his goal scoring record for a protracted period and we believe the time is ripe for him to be with us," an official of Al Orouba Sports Club noted in a joyous frame of mind. Click to continue reading...

Last year during the AFF Cup I met up with Singaporean striker Noh Alam Shah for an interview. We had a great chat, one that greatly exceeded the initial time we had agreed on and covered many topics.
One topic was Indonesian football. Of course he knew a bit about the game here through Pelita Jaya coach Fandi Ahmad and he was really excited by what he had heard of the fans here. Click to continue reading...

According to Ongisnade, possibly the best website in Indonesian football?, Arema, and their new coach Rene Alberts, have officially signed 14 players for the new season. Six players were with the club last season including Roni Firmansyah and Zulkifli while they have also snapped up Indonesian international keeper Markus Horison. Click to continue reading...

Three clubs have been told by the Indonesian Super League to improve their stadiums or they risk being thrown out of the league.
New boys PSPS Pekanbaru, Pelita Jaya and Persitara have been given a list of tasks that need to be completed before they can use their appointed grounds. Persitara have elected to use Lebak Bulus this season while the eternal nomads Pelita Jaya make it three grounds in three years when they move to Karawang. Click to continue reading...

After a few weeks when it seemed hardly a day went by without an Indonesian team being linked with players from Singapore or Thailand now all seems quiet.
Sriwijaya, seemingly linked with every player in south east Asia, are now considering a 35 year old Liberian striker named Maker. A far cry from the likes of Noh Alam Shah, Teerasil Dangda, Agu Casmir and Theerathep Winothai who had previously been linked with the Palembang side. Click to continue reading...

Tomorrow sees a meeting in Jakarta that could change the face of football in the capital city. Again.
Following weeks of conjecture and rumour talks will go ahead about a proposed merger between Persija and Persitara, the two Jakarta based clubs currently in the ISL.
At face value these two sides merging is akin to Chelsea and Millwall becoming one. Click to continue reading...

Most pre seasons tend to concentrate on transfer gossip and while there is plenty of that here there are also headlines that add a unique local twist to the game The following 'rumours' come from a variety of sources and I make no apology for any glaring contradictions.
Persija are being courted by an investor. Click to continue reading...

A local tabloid reports today that Pelita Jaya will play their home games next season in Karawang, just west of Jakarta. Last season of course they played in Soreang, south of Bandung and the year before it was Purwakarta midway between Jakarta and Bandung.
North Sulawesi, shorn of a top class side since the ISL started, had hoped the team would move there where they could have been assured healthy crowds. Click to continue reading...

A couple of days back I mentioned how Persija striker Greg Nwokolo had signed for Sriwijaya. Trooper Bari commented that I had been hasty and that Pelita Jaya were also interested in the Nigerian and he was right. However I now understand that Nwokolo has committed himself to Persija for another season as have Ismed Sofyan, Bambang Pamungkas and Robertinho. Click to continue reading...

Last season he impressed with a number of crucial goals for IPL side Persibo in the Copa Indonesia as they brushed aside Arema Malang and Pelita Jaya. Now the 24 year old will get a chance to show what he can do on a bogger stage as Persela Lamongan have snapped him up. No doubt increasing 8,000 USD a year contract in the process! Click to continue reading...

Persipura v Sriwijaya 4-1 (Alberto Goncalves, Ernest Jeremiah, Boas Solossa 2; Budi Sudarsono) 17,500
PKT v Pelita Jaya 5-1 (Josiah Seton 2, James Debbah 2, Titus Bonai; Cristiano Lopes) 2,500
Persela v Persitara 2-1 (Alex Robinson, Dicky Firasat; Rahmat Rivai) 12,000
Persiba v PSIS 5-0 (Trinidad 2, Musafry 3) 5,000
Persik v Persita 3-1 (Hamkah Hamza, Ronald Fagundez, Fadil; Nicholas Djone) 10,000
Persija v Persib 1-2 (Fabio Lopes; Airlangga, Christian Gonzales) 10,550
Persiwa v PSMS 5-0 (Rumaropen, Boakay,Barkaoui, Mamgbrasar, Weeks) 7,000
Arema v Persijap 3-1 (Buston Brown, Ahmad Sambing, Udo Fortune; Evaldo Silva) 15,000
Deltras v PSM 5-3 (Danilo Fernando, Firduas Nyong, Junior 2, Kornelius Kaimu; Syamsul 3) 597
1 - Persipura 34 25 5 4 81-25 80
2 - Persiwa 34 21 3 10 57-32 66
3 - Persib 34 20 6 8 63-40
4 - Persik 16 7 11 53-46 55
28 - Boas Solossa (Persipura), Christian Gonzales (Persik 14/Persib 14)
23 - Alberto Goncalves (Persipura)
22 - Claude Ngon A Djam (Sriwijaya)
18 - Bambang Pamungkas (Persija) Click to continue reading...

They were title challengers coming in to the second half of the season. Victories at home to Persela (1-0) and Persiwa (6-1) showed the Kamayoran Tigers meant business as they sought their first domestic title since 2001. And then? And then it went tits up.
Three weeks after the Persiwa game they traveled to Kalimantan for a couple of games. Click to continue reading...

Today sees PSMS take on champions Persipura in the Copa Indonesia at their own stadium in Medan. With their side still active on three fronts, fighting relegation from the ISL, the Copa and the AFC Cup, expect PSMS fans to see some changes as they juggle their commitments. Undoubtedly ISL survival is priority but this is a rare chance to perform in front of their home support so PSMS will be keen to put on a show. Click to continue reading...

Action from Thursday's ISL clash between Persita and Persela are finally up and can be found here ...Tomorrow I'm off to see Pelita Jaya play Arema. Check this space for images! Click to continue reading...

It's not the national team going to Iran but the Under 23s! They leave 24 May and have two games lined up in Tehran, on 26 and 28 May against the Iranians Under 23 and the Iranian full team.
Squad
Kurnia Meiga --- (Arema Malang)
Achmad Jufriyanto --- (Arema Malang)
Jajang Mulyana --- (Pelita Jaya)
Egi Melgiansyah --- (Pelita Jaya)
Frenky Irawan --- (PSM Makassar)
Djayusman Triasdi --- (PSM Makassar)
Rachmat Latief --- (PSM Makassar)
Hendro Siswanto --- (PSIS Semarang)
Elvis Nelson Anes --- (Tim PON DKI Jaya)
Johan Juansyah --- (Persijap Jepara)
Tony Sucipto --- (Sriwijaya FC)
Titus John Londouw Bonai --- (PKT Bontang)
Joko Sidik Fitra Yono --- (PKT Bontang U-21)
M Fauzan Djamal --- (Semen Padang)
Boas Solossa --- (Persipura Jayapura)
Imanuel Wanggai --- (Persipura Jayapura)
Sultan Samma --- (Persiba Balikpapan)
Mukhamad Saiku --- (Gresik United)
Yongky Ariwibowo --- (Persik Kediri)
Corneles Sergius Gedy --- (Persisam Samarinda) Click to continue reading...

June 1 sees the start of the Singapore League Cup (SLC) with the 12 members of the SLeague facing off against each other for the chance of some silverware.
Woodlands Wellington won the first edition of this trophy in 2007 while last year Gombak United collected it.
This season sees some changes with the competition beginning with a group format, replacing the knock out manner of earlier years. Click to continue reading...

On Manchester United's forthcoming tour of Asia they will be travelling by private jet; a kick in the teeth for Air Asia, one of the club's sponsors.
Heaven forbid the sons of heaven, well Old Trafford, should dirty themselves by flying on normal planes with us mortals and, good god, even mixing with regular fans. Click to continue reading...

Last night saw the West Java derby played out at Jalak Harupat Stadium in Soreang and it ended with Pelita Jaya continuing their recent fine run by defeating Persib Bandung, in no mean form themselves, 2-1.
I congratulated Fandi and this was his reply
'Good stuff. Raining bottles and stones, we had to leave by armoured car as they terroised the stadium. Click to continue reading...

AFC Champions League
Seoul v Sriwijaya 5-1 (Kayamba) 15,295
4 - Sriwijaya 5 0 0 5 3-22 0
Singapore Armed Forces v Shanghai Shehua 1-1 (Ahmad Latiff) 2,838
4 - SAF 5 1 0 4 3-16 1
AFC Cup
VB v Johor 2-0
PSMS v South China 2-2 (Oktavianus, Aun Carbiny) 300
2 - PSMS 5 3 1 1 8-7 10
4 - Johor 5 0 1 4 2-11 1
Eastern v Chonburi 2-1 (Ekaphan) 575
Kedah v Hanoi ACB 7-0 (Azrul 3, Rozali, Amiruddin, Mat Abu, Shahrulnizam) 2,800
1 - Chonburi 5 4 0 1 14-3 12
2 - Kedah 5 2 1 2 13-7 7
Binh Duong v Home United 2-0
2 - Home United 5 3 0 2 9-6 9
Indonesia Super League
Persik v Persija 2-0
Pelita Jaya v Persib 2-1 (James Koko Lomel, Cristian Lopez; Atep)
Mathematically they are in with a chance but realistically Persib's chances of lifting the iSL ended with their first defeat in 17 games against Pelita Jaya at Soreang. Click to continue reading...