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Monday, December 31, 2007

 

Crowd disorder hits Yogyakarta and Surabaya

Police fought with Persebaya fans who were locked out of their local derby with Arema Malang. Given the atmosphere surrounding this game it is little surprise there were no visiting Arema fans but that was of little import to the local simians who tried to smash a solid metal gate to gain admittance to the stadium.

In Yogyakarta home fans attacked visiting Sidoarjo players. I'm pleased to say that PSIM lost 2-1 and that this Thursday in the Copa Indonesia the Deltras should receive a better reception when they play Persija.

PSIM fans are known as Brajamusti and they have a nice web site here.

It is little surprise that the clubs who have regularly misbehaved this season, be it fans or players, have not made the Liga Super next season and Indonesian football is better off without them.

 

Noh Alam Shah rejects Pelita Jaya

Singaporean striker Noh Alam Shah has had some year. 2007 saw him start with a seven goal haul in the ASEAN Championships against Laos as Singapore won 11-1 and end with him receiving a 12 month suspension from the SLeague for twatting some guy in the Singapore Cup Final which his team, Tampines Rovers, lost to SAF.

After being courted by fellow Singaporean Fandi Ahmad Shah has now moved to the Malaysian Super League and joined PDRM FC, the Royal Malay Police team.

The 27 year old striker has previously had trials with Notts County and Skonto Riga. In 176 SLeague games he netted 130 goals as well as 26 in 60 appearances for Singapore.

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Liga Indonesia Top Scorers over the years

1995 - Peri Sandria (Bandung Raya) 33 goals.
1996 - Fouda Ntsama (Pupuk Kaltim) 23 goals
1997 - Jacksen F. Tiago (Persebaya) 19 goals
1998 - Kurniawan DY (Pelita Jakarta?) 20 goals *
1999 - Alain Mabenda (PSDS) 11 goals
2000 - Bambang Pamungkas (Persija) 24 goals
2001 - Baco Saddisau (Barito Putra) 22 goals
2002 - Ilham Jayakesuma (Persita) 26 goals
2003 - Oscar Aravena (PSM) 31 goals
2004 - Ilham Jayakesuma (Persita) 22 goals
2005 - Christian Gonzales (Persik) 25 goals
2006 - Christian Gonzales (Persik) 25 goals
2007 - Christian Gonzalez (Persik) 31 goals

* season not completed because of financial crisis

 

Liga Super 2008 competing teams

1. Sriwijaya FC Palembang
2. Persija Jakarta
3. PSMS Medan
4. Persik Kediri
5. Persib Bandung
6. Persela Lamongan
7. Persitara Jakarta Utara
8. Pelita Jaya Purwakarta
9. Persita Tangerang
10. Persipura Jayapura
11. Persiwa Wamena
12. Deltras Sidoarjo
13. Arema Malang
14. PSM Makassar
15. Persiter Ternate
16. Persiba Balikpapan
17. Persmin Minahasa
18. Persijap Jepara

The season starts .... who knows when?!




 

Kedah thump Selangor

29 December

Kedah v Selangor 6-2
Perlis v Terengganu 0-1
Pahang v PDRM 1-0
Penang v DPMM 1-1
Sarawak v MyTeam 4-1
Johor v Perak 2-0

Frank Seator again scored for his new club Selangor but it wasn't enough as they crashed 6-2 to Kedah for whom Marlon Alex James scored twice. Kedah remain joint top with 10 points from five games along with Terengganu and Selangor.

Police team PDRM lost to Pahang courtesy of an own goal which tickles me, it really does! Pahang of course will soon welcome Redouane Barkaoui from Persib Bandung, Indonesia where the season has just ended.

 

Play Offs

These are not confirmed but based on the schedule announced earlier.

Kediri 16-20 January

Sriwijaya v Persiwa
PSMS v Arema

Solo 17-21 January

Persipura v Persija
Deltras v Persik

No easy groups at this stage but you could say Persija are in the group of death if we must have one. From Kediri you would expect Sriwijaya and Arema to squuze through given Persiwa and PSMS' woes away from home.

 

Top Scorers 2008

31 - Gonzalez (Persik)
20 - Julio Lopez (PSIS)
17 - Marcio Souza (Persela)
16 - Pedro Javier (Persibom), Bambang (Persija), Moreno (Persmin), Goncalves (Persipura)
15 - James Koko (PSMS), Lenglolo (Sriwijaya), Anazco (PSDS), Aliyudin (Persija), Seah (Persiwa)
14 - Claudio Pronetto (Sidoarjo Deltras)

Names in bold are Indonesians!

 

Eastern Division

Persipura v Persma 5-0 10,000 (Jacob Komboy, Alberto Goncavles 4)
Persiwa v Persibom 2-0 9,000 (Sunday Seah, Sorentino)
Persiter v Persis 1-0 12,000 (Soleh)
Persmin v Persijap 1-1 5,000 (Moreno:Fakruddin)
Persiba v PSM 3-1 8,000 (Julio Cesar, Javier Roca, Musafri:Saibou Badarou)
PKT v Perseman 1-1 6,000 ( Seton:Reginaldo)
Persegi v Persekabpas 0-1 10,000 (Pratama)
Persebaya v Arema 1-1 28,000 (Sugiantoro:Rony)
PSIM v Sidarjo 1-2 10,000 (Irfan:Moriera 2)

PSM missed out on the Play Offs as they fell 3-1 at Persiba. To compond their woes Rahman was red carded. Arema were moments away from victory at bitter foes Persebaya before Sugiantoro equalised deep in injury time. Golly, that happens so often here!

PSIM fans disgraced themselves, again, so at least we are spared their oafish presence next season.

1. Persipura 34 19 7 8 54-24 64
2. Persiwa 34 18 5 11 56-30 59
3. Sidoarjo 34 17 8 9 47-30 59
4. Arema 34 15 12 7 45-28 57
5. PSM 34 17 6 11 43-33 57
6. Persiter 34 17 6 11 33-28 57
7. Persiba 34 16 7 11 48-35 55
8. Persmin 34 14 11 9 43-34 53
9. Persijap 34 15 7 12 38-36 52

1-4 qualify for the Play Offs while 1-9 will compete in the Liga Super next season.

 

Liga Indonesia Round Up Western Division

Persikota v Pelita Jaya 1-3 1,000 (Mostapa Aji:Jerkovic 2, Jajang Mulyana)
Persikabo v Persita 2-0 8,000 (David Ngan Pagbe,Rodrigo Santoni)
Persib v PSDS 3-0 27,000 (Cabanas, Barkaoui, Zaenal Arif)
PSS v Persiraja 5-1 20,000 (Mamadou 3, Slamet Nurcahyo 2:Teles)
PSIS v PSSB 3-0 10,000 (Julio Lopez 3)
Persela v PSMS 4-0 8,000 (Marcio Souza 2, Nyeck Nyobe, Purwanto)
Sriwjaya v Persema 3-2 10,000 (Kayamba Gumbs 2, Oktavianus:Fitrio, Paves)
Persitara v Persik 2-1 9,000 ( Kurniawan DY, Germain Bationo;Gonzalez)
Persija v Semen Padang 4-0 12,000 (Bambang 2, Ilham, Aliyudin)




Sunday, December 30, 2007

 

Persija v Semen Padang

There was a real end of season feel to this fixture with Persija assured Play Off football and Semen Padang, cheered on by a loyal if somewhat quiet 60 fans who had made the 36 hour bus journey, secure in the bottom four.

The first half was pretty dull if end to end and it was no surprise Bambang finally gave Persija the lead right on half time. Midway through the second half he doubled advantage with a majestic header before two goals in as many minutes killed off what little spectacle there was. Ilham was played through by a neat pass that took a defender out the game. He cut inside and finished smartly.

Moments later Aliyudin lobbed the keepr froma about three feet to make it 4 and give him 15 for the season. His partner in crime up front, Bambang ended up with 16 making them the most prolific all Indonesian partnership in the Liga.

Pictures can be found here

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Saturday, December 29, 2007

 

The final round of fixtures

Tomorrow sees the final round of fixtures in Liga Indonesia 2007 with plenty still to be decided. In the Western Division PSMS, Persija and Persik battle out the final berths in the Play Offs. Where they finish defines where they play, Kediri or Solo with Persija manager Ferry saying he would prefer Solo because of it's better transport links.

Pelita Jaya and PSIS battle it out for the remaining Liga Super place on offer next season. Pelita Jaya have the upper hand being three points clear and having a superior goal difference.

In the Eastern Division five clubs are battling the remaining three Play Off spots. Persiwa host Persibom and should be feeling secure given their home record. PSM have a tricky fixture at Persiba while the Deltras from Sidoarjo won't fancy making the shortish journey to struggling PSIM who give little away at home.

Coach Miroslav Jamu takes his Arema all stars, minus the suspended Bruno Casmir, to Persebaya while Persiter will be happy at facing Persis on home turf where they are unbeaten.

Elsewhere PSMS travel to East Java where they play Persela Lamongan without several key players. James Koko, Mahyadi Panggabean and Saktiawan Sinaga are among those suspended.

Persib return to Siliwangi Stadium after playing their last couple of home games at Jaluk Harapat Stadium in Soreang. Radouane Barkaoui, possibly one of the few players in the world with four vowels at the end of his name, plays his last game for Maung Bandung before moving to Malaysia where he will play for Pahang.

The live game tomorrow is Persija against Semen Padang which seems an odd, if safe, choice. Surely the Persikota v Pelita Jaya, PSIS v PSSB or Persebaya v Arema fixtures would have been better viewing?

Finally spare a thought for Perseman. They travel to PKT Bontang knowing defeat there would consign them to the history books. Not many teams these days lose all of their away games in a season.

Friday, December 28, 2007

 

SLeague kick off

Up in Singapore the SLeague 2008 kicks off on Monday 18th February.

The Singapore Cup will commence 6th May and the draw for the League Cup will be made 5th May and ties will commence 31st May.

The SLeague final round will be on 12th November.

Don't you just love Singapore? The season just over and already everything pretty much sorted for next year. God forbid Indonesia gets so well organised. I mean...what would I have to complain about eh?

 

Liga Indonesia Top Scorers

30 - Gonzalez (Persik)
17 - Julio Lopez (PSIS)
16 - Pedro Javier (Persibom)
15 - Koko (PSMS), Souza (Persela), Lenglolo (Sriwijaya), Anazco (PSDS), Moreno (Persmin)
14 - Pronetto (Sidoarjo), Aliyudin, Bambang (Persija), Sunday Seah (Persiwa)

Out of the top 12 goalscorers there are just two Indonesians which goes some way to explaining the national teams shot shy performances. And when you consider Persipura's Boaz Solossa has been injured since June yet has 13 goals you can see how deep the issue is

 

Pelita Jaya and PSIS

Everything has been done and dusted in the Western Division as we enter the final round of fixtures. Everything that is except for who will take the final spot up for grabs in the Liga Super next season.

Pelita Jaya are in pole position. They are 9th, three points ahead of PSIS with a better goal difference. Sunday sees them away to an improving Persikota for whom Mostopa Aji has been impressing. A point would ensure qualification for Fandi Ahmad's men.

PSIS are at home to PSSB, bottom of the Western Division. The men in blue must win by a margin of five clear goals to ensure they overtake Pelita Jaya but even that may not be enough if the Purwakarta men draw.

It's going to be a nail biting day Sunday for fans of both clubs that's for sure.

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Persiwa Wamena

Persiwa go into their final fixture on Sunday at home to Persibom confident they will secure the three points necessary to secure them Play Off football next month. With their home record they can't be anything but confident and with Persibom getting just six away points all season everything points to a home win.

Persiwa have till now played 16 home games which has brought them 15 wins and a single draw. In those games they have scored 43 goals, the highest throughout the Liga, and conceded just seven, the second lowest behind neighbours Persipura and PSMS.

Their leading goalscorer is Sunday Seah who has netted 14. Next up is Pieter Rumaropen with 12 and Boaki Edi Foday with 11.

But while the team from the Baliem Valley are impenetrable at home they are less so when they travel. Their 10 points on the road is by far the lowest of any of the Play Off challengers and indeed is exceeded by lowly Persikabo in the Western Division who are currently 11th.

Defeat on Sunday seems higly unlikely but you can never rule anything out in football Greavsie. But given their travel sickness how well would they do in the Play Offs anyway?

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Goal Crazy Liga 2007

There's been a glut of goals over the last few weeks so let's have a look at the high scoring games this season.

Persik v Persema 5-0
Sriwijaya v Persela 5-1
PSMS v Persik 6-1
Sriwijaya v Persiraja5-0
PSIS v Persiraja 5-0
PSDS v PSSB 6-0
Persik v PSS 6-2
Sriwijaya v Persik 5-0
Persitara v Persema 6-1

Sidoarjo v Perseman 5-0
Persipura v Persekabpas 6-0
Persis v Persebaya 5-0
Persebaya v Persmin 5-3
Persipura v Perseman 5-0
Persibom v Persma 5-3
Persijap v Arema 3-5
Persiwa v Persma 7-0

 

Liga goes goal crazy

Persikota v Persita 0-0
Persikabo v Pelita Jaya 2-1 8,000 (Batoum 2:Egi Melgiansyah)
Persib v Persiraja 4-0 10,000 (Zaenal Arif 3, Barkaoui pen)
PSS v PSDS 2-1 9,000 (Purwoko, Castano pen:Anazco)

Persipura v Persibom 2-0 10,000 (Wanggai, Ivakdalam)
Persiwa v Persma 7-0 9,000 (Seah 2, Boakay Eddie Foday 3, Romaropan, Sorrentino)
Persiter v Persijap 2-1 12,000 (Mochtar, Dos Santos:Udensi)
Persmin v Persis 1-1 10,000 (Moreno:Sukore)
Persiba v Perseman 3-0 8,000 (Musyafry 2, Julio Cesar)
PKT v PSM 1-2 6,000 (Seton:Syamsul 2)

Pelita Jaya's defeat at Persikabo, for whom Roger Batoum netted twice making it 13 for the season, mean they go in to Sunday's game at Persikota needing a point to guarantee Liga Super next season. Zaenal Arif has been less prolific for Persib but a hat trick yesterday helped Maung Bandung to their first victory in 10 and saw them climb back up to 5th spot.

Persipura secured the Eastern Division Championship after beating Persibom 2-0 yesterday. Less clear is who will join them in the Play Offs with five clubs, PSM, Persiwa, Arema, Sidoarjo and Persiter, in the chase. After hitting Persma for seven Persiwa, who have only dropped two home points all season, must be favourites as Sunday sees them host Persibom.

PSM have a tricky fixture away at Persiba while Persiter host a disappointing Persis who missed out on Liga Super qualification.

Pity Arema Malang who must travel to their bitterest foes Persebaya Sunday knowing a win will assure them a Play Off spot.

Thursday, December 27, 2007

 

Persiwa net seven

Persiwa climbed back into the top 4 of the Eastern Division after putting seven past hapless Persma at Pendidikin Stadium in the Baliem Valley, Papua.

Papuan neighbours, well 600 km away, Persipura beat Persibom 2-0 with goals from Wanggai and Ivakdalam.

Usual stats on the morrow

 

PSM chase Dickson

Eastern Division glamour club PSM Makassar are rumoured to be in the hunt for Persitara's Singaporean import Itimi Dickson.

Dickson's arrival at Kamal Muara Stadium has coincided with the North Jakartan side climb up the table on the back of a strong run culminating yesterday in their 6-1 mauling of Persema

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Copa Indonesia Semi Final/Final tickets

Semi Finals (January 10)

VIP - 75,000
Category 2 - 30,000
Category 3 - 20,000
Category 4 - 10,000

Final (January 13)

VIP - 100,000
Category 2 - 30,000
Category 3 - 25,000

Quarter Finals Second Leg

1. Persija vs Deltras: (1-1) 03 January
2. Persipura vs Persekabpas: (2-2) 04 January
3. Sriwijaya FC vs PSMS: (0-2) 05 January
4. Pelita Jaya vs Persita: (0-1) 06 January

Semi Finals

Persekabpas/ Persipura vs Deltras/ Persija
Pelita Jaya/ Persita vs Sriwijaya FC/ PSMS

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Liga Indonesia today

Persikota v Persita
Persikabo v Pelita Jaya
Persib v Persiraja
PSS v PSDS

Persipura v Persibom
Persiwa v Persma
Persiter v Persijap
Persmin v Persis
PKT v PSM
Persiba v Perseman

All eyes on the Eastern Division today with seven of the top nine in action. Persipura should have enough to secure Play Off football while Persiwa will enjoy a home game after a torrid time away.

Persib have struggled of late thanks to turmoil in the club ownership but against Persiraja, without an away win all season they must fancy three points for the first time in nine games. Fandi Ahmad takes Pelita Jaya to Persikabo for another West Java Derby knowing another victory could see his team climb to 5th spot.

 

Boxing Day goal bonanza

Persitara v Persema 6-1 (Ebendje, Sonkaliey, Kurniawan DY, Bationo, Dickson, Doni: Effendi)
Sriwijaya v Persik 5-0 (Anoure, Lenglolo 2, Gumbs 2)
Persela v PSSB 3-0 (Marcio Souza 2, Putiray)
PSIS v PSMS 1-1 (Lopez:Chena)

Persigi v Arema 1-1 (Belibi:Casmir)
Persebaya v Persekabpas 0-1

Sriwijaya secured the Western Division Championship by majextically sweeping aside Persik Kediri 5-0 in Palembang. PSIS's draw at home to PSMS means the Semarang club, fresh from securing sponsorship for next season, will not be in the Liga Super next season. With one game left they lie four points adrift of 9th placed Persib, themselves not sure of top flight football next season. Expect Julio Lopez, the Liga's second top scorer, to lead an exodus over the close season.

Arema, roared on by more than a thousand travelling supporters could only draw 1-1 at bottom club Persigi Bali meaning they are second on 56 points. With Persiwa, Persiter, Persmin and Persijap capable of getting more points than the Malang team Arema are still not guaranteed a Play Off spot

UPDATE
Apologies to PSIS fans...their club are two points adrift of 9th placed Persib with one game remaining. Liga Super next season is still a possibility

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

 

Benny Dollo

Benny Dollo is one of the favourites to replace Ivan Kolev as coach of the Indonesian national team, a position he knows pretty well. The 57 year old Manado born coach has a wealth of experience in the local game.

1986-1991 - Pelita Jaya
1994-1999 - Persita
1999-2000 - Persema
2000 - Persita
2001 - Indonesia
2001-2003 - Persita
2004-2006 - Arema Malang
2007- - Persita

 

Tangerang Derby fan free

Tomorrow's Tangerang Derby between Persita and Persikota will be played in front of an empty stadium as supporters' clubs from both sides decided not to attend the game. There has been a history of incidents at Benteng Stadium this season with both sets of fans, including recent Persita games with Persib and PSS.

In their first meeting this season the stadium was also empty.

 

Indonesia host AFF 2008

Indonesia and Thailand will co host next years ASEAN Football Federation Championship next December. Vietnam stands ready to step in in case the Thais or Indonesians aren't ready in time.

I mean, as if...

 

23 December Malaysian Super League

PDRM v Perlis 2-3
Terengganu v Kedah 3-1
Selangor v Penang 2-1
DPMM v Sarawak 5-1
MyTeam v Johor 2-2
Perak v Negeri Sembilan 0-1

Team P W D L GF GA PT
SELANGOR 4 3 1 0 7 2 10
PERLIS 3 2 1 0 8 2 7
TERENGGANU 4 2 1 1 9 4 7
KEDAH 4 2 1 1 6 4 7
NEGERI 4 2 1 1 3 3 7
PDRM 4 2 0 2 9 3 6
PERAK 3 2 0 1 3 1 6
JOHOR FC 4 1 3 0 5 4 6
DPMM 4 1 1 2 5 4 4
PAHANG 3 1 0 2 3 7 3
MyTEAM 3 0 2 1 3 4 2
PENANG 4 0 1 3 2 7 1
SARAWAK 4 0 0 4 2 15 0

 

Malaysian Super League

PERLIS 5 PAHANG 0

KEDAH 4 PDRM 1

PENANG 1 TERENGGANU 1

SARAWAK 0 SELANGOR 2

JOHOR FC 0 DPMM FC 0

NEGERI SEMBILAN NAZA 1 MyTEAM 1

Frank Seator, former Persis, PSMS, Sriwijaya and Persija striker hits a brace for Selangor, his 5th club in two years!

 

December 22/23

Pelita Jaya v Persib 2-0 10,000 (Jerkovic, Lopez)
Persija v Persikota 2-2 12,000 (Bambang, Aliyudin:Epalla Jordan, Mostapa Aji)
Persita v PSS Sleman 1-0 8,000 (Ernest)

Persijap v Persiwa 1-0 13,000 (Dony Siregar)
Persis v Persipura 0-1 12,000 (Ernest Jeremiah)
Perseman v Persiter 2-0 2,000 (Reginaldo 2)
PSM v Persmin 3-1 15,000 (Baretto, Lantame, Sardinata:Moreno)

Persib made it four points from their last nine games as their woeful run continued at Krakatau Stadium, Cilegon, losing 2-0 to West Java neighbours Pelita Jaya. Persib must now worry about even making the Liga Super next season, they need to finish in the top 9, while Fandi Ahmad's Pelita Jaya now lie 5th. Several thousand Persib fans made the journey west to Cilegon for this game and some were involved in running battles with the police after the game.

Persikota raced into a surprise 2-0 lead at Lebuk Bulus against Persija but Aliyudin spared the Jak's blushes with an equaliser on 89 minutes.

Persipura climbed back to he top of the Eastern Division with Ernest getting the only goal in a game marred by home side captain Greg Nwokolo getting a straight red for pushing a linesman over.

 

Wednesday 20 December

Indonesia v Borussia Dortmund 0-1 20,000

Pelita Jaya v PSS 2-0 5,000 (Jajang Mulyana, Lopez)

Persijap v Persipura 2-0 8,000 (Dony Sirager, Leandro Braga)
Perseman v Persmin 1-1 2,000 (Gomes:Romero)

Playing catch up 'cos I just spent the week in Lombok.

Small crowd in the rain saw Indonesia go down 1-0 to the visiting Germans, Petric getting the only goal

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

 

Persis v Persiwa 1-1

Papuan side Persiwa managed a 1-1 draw in Solo moving them on to 53 points, two points clear of 5th placed PSM

 

Daniel Roekito to leave Persik

Champions Persik will be looking for a new manager after coach Daniel Roekito announced he would not be signing a new contract when his current one expires.

He has said that two years with the East Javan club, who so impressed in the Asian Champions League this season, is enough, time for something new.

Roekito's footbaling philosophy will have a number of suitors perhaps including the coach of the national team should Ivan Kolev be sent on his way?

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A couple of articles on ESPN

I've had a couple of articles recently posted over on ESPN. The most recent looks back at the Indonesian FA's annus horribilis.

Before that I looked at the development of youth football in Indonesia when I interviewed Marvin, the General Manager of the Arsenal Soccer School here.

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Pelita Jaya switch venues

Pelita Jaya have had to switch venues for their last three games. The local police have refused to allow the Purnawarnam Stadium to be used because of local government elections.

19 December v PSS (Jalak Harupat, Soreang)
22 December v Persib (Krakatau Steel Stadium, Cilegon)
6 January v Persita (Jalak Harupat, Soreang)

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Big Brother

Arsenal have introduced a grassing/dobbing scheme at the Emirates designed to take on anti social behaviour and to be honest it's scary.

Basically what you do is if you are sitting near someone and they start using foul language, racist abuse, smoking, people standing blocking your view, homophobic abuse or evidence of ticket touting you send a text message and the club will send someone to look into the matter. Prosecutions could follow.

What a bloody farce our game is becoming! All these newbie supporters have come to our game and having priced most of the original working class support out of the game now seek to sanitise the atmosphere so going to a football match becomes as exciting as a trip to the dentist.

The scope for mischief is plentiful. For example what if I don't like the guy in front's shirt, I text the number, say he's been calling people naughty, non pc names, and leave my seat number. Stewards come, I say yeah he's a twat and we have an almighty beano while the game is in progress, disturbing all and sundry just 'cos said geezer has a daft shirt on.

Why isn't it offensive to wear loud shirts? I find it offensive, surely I should be allowed to complain? And what about the idiot in seat 12, the one with buck teeth and bad breath? Can't I complain about him?


It could get personal, people get vengeful and it could end up in chaos with the majority having to suffer sanctimonius pink hatted do gooder twats trying to impose their values on our game.

Sod 'em. I hope the system gets abused to hell, the stewards get abused to hell and the network backlogged to hell.

If these people don't want any atmosphere at the game why the bloody hell don't they stay at home watching it on their bloody tv and allow real supporters the chance to see the game? Going to football isn't like going to an opera or a funeral you morons

Fuck these people, they are turning my country more and more into a nanny state...

Full story here

And don't get me going about Be a Gooner, Be a Giver...

 

Indonesia's squad for Dortmund

Goalkeepers:
Markus Horison (PSMS Medan), Ferry Rotinsulu (Sriwijaya FC)

Defenders:
Ortizan Solossa (Arema Malang), Nova Arianto (Persib Bandung), Charis Yulianto (Sriwijaya FC Palembang), Muhammad Ridwan (PSIS Semarang), Supardi Nasir (PSMS Medan), Erol Iba (Persik Kediri), Isnan Ali (Sriwijaya FC Palembang), Suwita Patha (Persib Bandung)

Midfielders:
Mahyadi Panggabean (PSMS Medan), Syamsul Chaeruddin (PSM Makassar), Ponaryo Astaman (Arema Malang), Firman Utina (Persita Tangerang), Elie Aiboy (Arema Malang), Irsyad Aras (PSM Makassar)

Strikers:
Bambang Pamungkas (Persija Jakarta), Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto (Persitara Jakarta Utara), Aliyudin (Persija Jakarta), Rahmad Rivai (Persiter Ternate)

Monday, December 17, 2007

 

NIAC Mitra

There is, I must come clean, an anorak streak coarsing through my veins which is alerted whenever anything Arsenal comes to my attention.

On Wednesday this week, while Borussia Dortmund grab the headlines, a more run of the mill Liga match takes place pitting Pelita Jaya and PSS. What the hell does this have to do with the Arsenal?

Well, it so happens Pelita's coach is one Fandi Ahmad. At PSS there is Rudy Keljtes.

Back in 1982/83 Fandi spent 18 months with NIAC Mitra, based in Surabaya, as he was starting out on his career. Alos at NIAC that season was Rudy and it was a time of great merriment as their club won the old style Galatama.

What the hell has all this got to do with the price of eggs in Lombok I hear no one cry?

In June 1983 Arsenal came to Indonesia on a post season tour, it was around the time they signed Charlie Nicholas, and played NIAC Mitra in Surabaya. The score, if you must know may be found here...

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Aliyudin (Persija)

27 year old Aliyudin has been having an impressive season in partnership with Bambang at Lebuk Bulus. They may be a lightweight pairing, Aiyudin tips the scales at a featherweight 56kg but he has pace and energy to burn as his impressive performance yesterday at home to Sriwijaya showed.

His partnership at club level with Bambang may well be replicated on Wednesday against German visitors as Liga Select Coach Benny Dollo has selected both players in his squad.

Bogor born, Aliyudin started his career with Indocement who I guess have some kind of football team. He spent two years at Pelita KS Cilegon, an earlier incarnation of Pelita Jaya, before signing for Persikota in 2004. He joined Persija at the start of this season.

He rates Michael Owen, Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez, all Ronnie Corbett sized strikers, as his favourite players while for what it's worth I look at his partnership with BP as reminiscent of Tony Cottees with Frank McAvennie back in 85/86 when the Hammers finished 3rd behind Everton.

 

Dadang Sudrajat (Persitara)

Persitara's keeper, Bandung born Dadang was in the wars last week during the Jakarta Derby when he was involved in an accidental clash with Persija striker Bambang Pamungkas. Dadang needed oxygen and received treatment for about five minutes as colleagues looked on anxiously.

He recovered and went on to make some crucial stops but couldn't prevent the Si Putung going down 2-1.

27 years old Dadang started his career with Nusa Raya in his home town before moving to Krakatau Steel in 2001. After a year in Cilegon he moved to Putra Malang KS before fronting up at Persib where he stayed three seasons.

He went down into lower league football for a season with Mitra Kukar before moving to North Jakarta this season

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AFC Cup 2008

The draw has been made for Asia's second tier tournament. Full schedule later.

Group A
Dempo Goa
Sur (Oman)
Al Ansar (Lebanon)
Al Muharraq (Bahrain)

Group B
East Bengal
Al Ahli Sana’a
Safa (Lebanon)
Al Wihdat (Jordan)

Group C
Shabab Al Ordun (Jordan) (Holders)
Shaab Hadramaout (Yemen)
Al Nahda (Oman)
Al Najma (Bahrain)

Group D
Home United
South China
Kedah
Victory

Group E
Singapore Armed Forces
Kitchee
New Radiant
Perak

 

AFC Champions League Draw 2008

28 of Asia's finest go into the hat today for next years ACL which begins in March. This region will be represented by Thailand's Chonburi and Krung Thai Bank with Vietnam providing Nam Dinh and Binh Duong.

In the group stage there are seven groups of four teams. Champions Urawa come in at the knock out stage. 16 teams come from West Asia with the remaining 12, including a couple of Australian clubs, in the East Asia section.


Group A
Sepahan
Kuruvchi
Al Ittihad
Al Ittihad (SYR)

Group B
Al Wasl
Saipa
Kuwait FC
Al Quwa Al Jawiya

Group C
Al Sadd
Al Wahda
Al Karama
Al Ahli

Group D
Pakhtakor
Al Gharafa
Arbil
Al Qadsiya

Group E
Changchun Yatai
Adelaide United
Pohang Steelers
Binh Duong

Group F
Krung Thai Bank
Beijing Guoan
Nam Dinh
Kashima Antlers

Group G
Melbourne Victory
Chonburi FC
Gamba Osaka
Chunnam Dragons

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Liga Weekend

Persita v Persib 1-1 Basri:Barkoui (8,000?!)
Persik v Persela 4-0 Gonzalez 2, Khusnul, Fagundez (15,000)
PSSB v Persikota 2-1 Mendieta 2:Jordan (2,000)
S.Padang v Persitara 1-0 Fleilas (2,000)
Persija v Srwijaya 4-2 Ismed, Ilham, Bambang, Agus Indra:Benben, Obiora (12,000)
PSMS v Persikabo 3-1 Julian, Koko 2:Batoum (10,000)
Persma v PSIS 1-1 Sergio:Ridwan (8,000)

Arema v Persiba 3-0 Morales, Mbamba 2 (30,000)
Persekabpas v PKT 2-2 Oddang, Rolon:Wawan, Thesia (1,500)
PSM v Persiter 1-0 Sakibou (15,000)
Sidoarjo v Persebaya 1-1 Branesac:Arif (25,000)
PSIM v Persigi Bali 2-1 Nurdianto, Sasongko:Belibi (1,000)

Two more for Gonzalez gives him 30 goals for the season and all but secures Persik's place in the Play Offs in January. Joing them, barring a major upset will be Persija, PSMS and Sriwijaya. The major upset would be Persib winning their last three games and Persik, Persija and PSMS losing theirs. I wonder what Santa will bring me next week?

Persitara fell at Padang but then we knew that would happen didn't we? PSIS hang on to 9th spot which guarantees Liga Super football next season. 5,000 fans locked out of Lebuk Bulus yesterday for Persija's home game with Sriwijaya tells its own story. Perhaps 100 million rupiah missing from Persija's coffers this morning...

In the East Deltras go top despite being held by neighbours Persebaya with goals coming in a five minute spell deep in the second half. That's two consecutive away points for the Surabaya club, previously they had managed one in 15!PSM move up to 5th, one point behind 4th placed Persiwa after their narrow victory at home to fellow Play Off challengers Persiter.

Despite that Dortmund game life goes on for most of the Liga with most attention on the East this week. Persiwa travle to Solo tomorrow while Persipura play Persijap on Wednesday. Persmin, with an outside chance of Play Off football, won't fancy goingto Perseman.

Sunday, December 16, 2007

 

Persija v Sriwijaya 4-2

For any aliens landing in Jakarta on a cloudy December afternoon and ending up in a packed Lebuk Bulus this game is evidence there ain't a whole lot wrong with football in Indonesia. This was a barnstorming affair, not that I've ever stormed a barn, with six goals, could have been 10, impressive individual performances with a little bit of petulance thrown in for good measure.

Obiura gave the visitors the lead after about 10 minutes after some good work down the left flank but Persija weren't going to roll over and die. Three goals in five minutes turned the game on its head round the half hour mark as first an Ismed Sofyan free kick equalised then Ilham and Bambang had the full house going mental.

Atep was a constant threat down the right hand side as he harried and tormented the Sriwijaya left back, showing the form that has him marked down as one of Indonesia's brightest young talents.

3-1 is the most fragile of leads when your opponents are Sriwjaya and so it proved when Benben pulled one back setting the game up for an almighty climax.

Aliyudin, who was presented with his own t shirt from his adoring fans before the kick off, was always a danger with his pace against the somewhat lumbering Sriwijaya defence and it was no surprise when he beat the offside and was pulled down in the box.

The ref pointed to the spot and Bambang, with a goal under his belt and proving his reputation as the nice guy of Indonesian football, passed on the spot kick duty to Agus Indra.4-2.

There was still plenty of time for Sriwijaya to play their way back into their back. Their slick passes and quick breaks worried the Persija defence for whom Hamkah Hamza turned in a commanding performance. But the visitors lost their way and turned to petulance. There was some handbags thrown and dummies spat but those incidents shouldn't be allowed to detract from what was a great game of football.

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Malaysian Super League

Tuesday sees the MSL back in action after the break for the SEA Games.

Perlis v Pahang
Kedah v PDRM Police
Penang v Terengganu
Sarawak v Selangor
Johor v DPMM
Negeri Sembilan v MyTeam

Team P W D L GF GA PT
PDRM 2 2 0 0 6 1 6
PERAK 2 2 0 0 3 0 6
SELANGOR 2 1 1 0 3 1 4
JOHOR FC 2 1 1 0 3 2 4
KEDAH 2 1 1 0 1 0 4
TERENGGANU 2 1 0 1 5 2 3
PAHANG 2 1 0 1 2 1 3
NEGERI 2 1 0 1 1 2 3
PERLIS 1 0 1 0 0 0 1
DPMM FC 2 0 0 2 0 3 0
PENANG 2 0 0 2 0 4 0
MyTEAM 1 0 0 1 0 1 0
SARAWAK 2 0 0 2 1 8 0

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PSM v Persiter 1-0

Details to follow

 

Singapore and Thailand's road to South Africa 2010

Just two countries fly the flag for South East Asia as they battle to reach South Africa in 2010.

Singapore were drawn with Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan and Lebanon while Thailand drew Japan, Bahrain and Oman.

Singapore:
6 Feb Saudi (A)
26 Mar Lebanon (H)
2 Jun Uzbekistan (H)
7 Jun Uzbekistan (A)
14 Jun Saudi (H)
22 Jun Lebanon (A)

Thailand
6 Feb Japan (A)
26 Mar Oman (H)
2 Jun Bahrain (H)
7 Jun Bahrain (A)
14 Jun Japan (H)
22 Jun Oman (A)

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Kolev's future undecided

In the wake of Indonesia's poor SEA Games and World Cup collapse FA are pondering the future of Bulgarian coach Ivan Kolev. Persita coach Benny Dollo is taking charge of the Liga Select for Wednesday's 'prestige' friendly with Borussia Dortmund but beyond that nothing is claer. Nothing except the Indonesia national team have nothing arranged.

There are calls for an Indonesian coach to be given charge next and Benny Dollo is an obvious contender as is Rahmad Dharmawan, now with Sriwijaya. Dharmawan led Perspira to the Liga Indonesia in 2005, Persija to the Play Offs in 2006 and this year his Sriwijaya have been the dominant force in the local scene as they are guaranteed a Play Off place and are also in the Copa Semi Finals

Previous Coaches

Romano Matte (Italy) 1993-1995
Danurwindo (Indonesian) 1995-1996
Henk Wullems (Netherlands) 1996-1997
Rusdy Bahalwan (Indonesia) 1998
Bernard Schumm (Germany) 1999
Nandar Iskandar (Indonesia) 1999-2000
Benny Dollo (Indonesia) 2000-2001
Ivan Kolez (Bulgaria) 2002-2004
Peter Withe (England) 2004-2007
Ivan Kolev (Bulgaria) 2007-

 

Remaining Fixtures in Eastern Division

Persipura

v Persijap (A)
v Persis (A)
v Persibom (H)
v Persma (H)

Arema

v Persigi (A)
v Persebaya (A)

Sidoarjo Deltras

v Persebaya (H)
v PSIM (A)

Persiwa

v Persis (A)
v Persijap (A)
v Persma (H)
v Persibom (H)

Persiter

v Perseman (A)
v Persijap (H)
v Persis (H)

Persmin

v Perseman (A)
v PSM (A)
v Persis (H)
v Persijap (H)

Persiba

v Perseman (H)
v PSM (H)

PSM

v Persmin (H)
v PKT (A)
v Persiba (A)

For what it's worth I hope PSM get up there and knock Persiwa out of the Play Offs!

 

Arema v Persiba 3-0

I never knew Peter Butler, Persiba's English coach who once played for West Ham, could speak Indonesian so well!

Emile Mbamba again stole the headlines as Arema moved second, on goal difference, behind leaders Persipura, on goal difference, finally extinguishing Persiba's brave fight.

Patricio Morales gave Arema the lead on 29 minutes. Mbamba got his first on 62 minutes heading a cross from the right.

Mbamba hit third right at the end and while the result was never in doubt the quality of his strike was immense. Leaning backwards, crunched up, Mbamba's right foot volley from 20 yards was as good as anything you're gonna see this season.

Not seen the crowd announced yet but the stadium was full.

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Persita v Persib 1-1

The result nobody wanted. Both teams now require maximum points from their final three games, other results to go their way plus perhaps a daily diet of three shredded wheat.

Crowd trouble marred the game as Persita fans, not for the first time, attacked the visiting Persib fans, throwing rocks into their enclosure. Police kept the Vikings in the stadium for one hur after the game while the home fans were cleared.

A word about the Benteng Stadium in Tangerang. It is near the local government offices and in the shadow of a great mosque that dominates the skyline locally. I guess is is beyond the wit of people there to tidy the place up once in a while?

Basri gave the home team the lead before Barkoui got a late equaliser.

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Saturday, December 15, 2007

 

Bung Karno to host Persija?

The management of Bung Karno Stadium have agreed in principle to hosting Persija home games next season. The Jak's current stadium, Lebuk Bulus, is scheduled for renovation, it's capacity of 12,500 is woefully inadequate, and funding has been agreed but, as ever in Indonesia, their are issues of land ownership slowing it down.

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Liga Preview

Take your Manchester Uniteds, Liverpools and Fabio Cappello's and try sticking them some place the sun don't shine, Liga Indonesia is where it's at and despite being a troubled season for the FA the climax promises to be as exciting as any place in the footballing world.

Today Persib, roared on by a cast of thousands, play Persita in a game that their Technical Director, Risnauder, describes as life or death. Without a win in seven, without a coach and today without the suspended Patricio Jiminez Persib do have Eka Ramdani back but he must be pretty knackered having spent the last couple of months jetting between Argentina, Syria, Malaysia and Thailand. If there is one thing in their favour Persib have the best away record in the Liga, having collected 19 points on the road.

In the Eastern Division Arema host Persiba in the evening game knowing that three points will put them level on top with Persipura and Sidoarjo. Persiba currently lie seventh and have Play Off dreams of their own. Victory today would put them on 52 points, the same as Arema. It will be interesting to see whether Mbamba lines up this evening after his little spat last time.

A Play Off series without PSM would be like Christmas Day without a hangover but there is a real danger the Sulawesi giants could miss out. They lie eigth on 48 points, four points adrift of 4th spot Arema. Today they host 5th placed Persiter who have 51 points.

Tomorrow will also have fans of Indonesian football sitting round their TV sets all day. Third play first at Lebuk Bulus as Rahmad Dharmawan returns to Jakarta, where he coached last year, brings his Sriwijaya safe in the knowledge they are the only team sure of a Play Off place, his third in three years. (Previously with Persipura and Persija). Persija, with three remaining games all at home, have been playing weel recently with Robertinho, their 23 years old Argentinian import, more impressive with every game while Rueben Ceco, on the bench, adds strength in depth. Bambang and Aliyudin up front have netted 25 of the Kemayoran Tigers 45 goals this season, a lethal partnership though perhaps too lightweight for the international stage.

PSIS have had a rough old season since de Porres and Ortiz moved on and today they sit 9th on 44 points, just squeezing into the Liga Super next year ahead of PSDS and Persema on goal difference. Today they travel to Persema knowing time is running out. Three points is a must with just two games left after the weekend.

PSMS don't concede much at home, just five all season. It's hard to see Persikabo breaching that defence unless Rodrigo Santino and Roger Batoum get lucky. Christian Gonzalez lines up against Persela tomorrow for Persik Kediri with five points separating them in the table. The Lamongan team have one of the better away records in the Liga but Persik have lost once at home in four seasons.

The other games in the Western Division see Persitara go to Semen Padang and Persikota make the long journey to PSSB.

In the Eastern Division how about Sidoarjo v Persebaya? A win or draw over their near neighbours would see the Deltras go top of the table as they welcome back Jose Sebastian and Moriera. Persebaya have just two points on the road all season, this won't be a good day for the local police who could be kept busy!

In the other game two tourist destinations battle it out at the bum end of the table. PSIM, 15th, versus Persegi Bali, 16th.

Oh yeah and Sunday sees Arsenal play Chelsea!

So what are your plans?

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Viking invasion

Persib's Viking Supporters Club are expecting a large turnout today as they head to Tangerang for their vital Liga match with Persita. A travel package including travel and tickets costs 60,000 rupiah while fans from the Bogor area pay 35,000 rupiah. Defeat today could well ensure Persib do not make the Play Offs

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Friday, December 14, 2007

 

Provisional Liag Indonesia dates

Things can and do change in this place but these are the dates being pencilled in for the Liga Plays Offs and Finals

Two cities are being looked at to host the Play Offs, unsurprisingly Solo and surprisingly Kediri. I would have thought Gresik might have made a good neutral venue but perhaps it's a bit too close to Surabaya! Jaluk Harapat near Bandung?

Kediri will host games 16-20 January, Solo 17-21 January. The draw will, possibly, look something like this.

Kediri

WD 1 v ED 2
WD 3 v ED 4

Solo

ED 1 v WD 2
ED 3 v WD 4

*ED and WD of course refer to Eastern and Western Division.

The Semi Finals would then be played on 24th January, a Thursday with the Final on the 27th at Gung Karno in Jakarta.

Just don't go booking your tickets yet!

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Remaining Fixtures in Western Division

We're at the business end of the season, finally, and in the Western Division nothing beyond Sriwijaya in the Big 8 Play Offs. Time to look at who plays who in the run in.

Sriwijaya
v Persija (A)
v Persik (H)
v Persema (H)

Persija
v Sriwijaya (H)
v Persikota (H)
v Semen Padang (H)

PSMS
v Persikota (H)
v Persokabo (H)
v PSIS (A)
v Persela (A)

Persik
v Persela (H)
v Sriwijaya (A)
v Persitara (A)

Persela
v Persik (A)
v PSSB (H)
v PSMS (H)

Persib
v Persita (A)
v Pelita Jaya (A)
v Persiraja (H)
v PSDS (H)

Persitara
v Semen Padang (A)
v Persema (H)
v Persik (H)

Persija must be confident of reaching the Play Offs with their final three games at Lebuk Bulus where they remain unbeaten all season. Who will join them? PSMS have the best defence in the league but they have a reputation for struggling on the road. They won't fancy trips to PSIS and Persela.

Persik have the toughest run in with their final two games away at Sriwijaya and Persitara. Will the goals of Christian Gonzalez be enough to counter a weak defence in those crucial games? Persitara have looked good recently and are a tough cookie to crunch at home.

Persela are a surprise package and they will look fondly at their final two home games against Sumatran teams that struggle on the road. They won't however look forward to the trip to Kediri. They may just have run out of games but it has been a tremendous effort from the East Javan team.

Persib won't enjoy the next two away games. First up at Persita tomorrow then neighbours Pelita Jaya away. Two final games at home against Sumatran opposition offer them a chance of redeeming the last few weeks where poor form has seen them slip alarmingly down the table but it could be all over by then.

Persitara fancy their chances against anyone at homne these days and the goals from Bationo have inspired them onwards and upwards. Oddly the game against Semen Padang could be their undoing. Odd because Padang are crap.

My prediction? Persija have an easy enough run in to join Sriwijaya in the Big 8. Who will join them is a harder ask. I hope Persik 'cos watching them play is a lot of fun. With six points from their next two home games and psiibly a point or two on the road PSMS will probably squeeze through. Safe I knwo, the current top 4, and I would love to see Persib make it but they will need to turn it round starting Saturday. Victory at Tangerang could see them back in the mix.

 

AFC Cup 2008

Next Monday sees the draw made for the AFC Cup in KL. 20 clubs will be divided into five groups of four. Last year Jordan dominated the Cup by providing both finalists.

Shabab Al Ordun defeated two-time champions Al Faisaly in the final this year.

West

Bahrain – Al Muharraq, Al Najma
Jordan - Shabab Al Ordun, Al Wihdat
Lebanon - Al Ansar, Safa
Oman - Al Nahda, Sur
Yemen - Ahli Sana’a, Shaab Hadramaut
India - Kingfisher East Bengal, Dempo

East

Hong Kong - South China FC, Kitchee FC
Malaysia- Kedah FC, Perak FC
Maldives - Victory SC, New Radiant
Singapore - Singapore Armed Forces FC, Home United

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A Persib Bandung blog

Blog PERSIB
I do like this guys work. Unforunately there isn't enough of it. Either his work or indeed Indonesian football fans blogging in English. No reason why they should of course, I don't see many Sunderland fans writing about the Mackems in Finnish or Creole.

Check out his latest post about coach Arcan Iurie's recent departure. Read it and understand a little of the passion that surrounds Persib Bandung and the frustration at seeing their season tailspin out of control.

I touched recently on Persib's woes in a recent article for ESPN when I interviewed Heru Joko, the leader of the Viking Supporters Club, but I was an outsider looking in. This guy writes with a feeling only the true fan can have.

Dunno who he is but hope to see more of his work!


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Gonzalez nets two as Persik go 4th

The race for the Top 4 in the Western Division is settling down as three of the contenders won comfortably yesterday. Robertinho inspired Persija in the Jakarta Derby while in Sumatra Benben Berlian's last minute goal was enough for Sriwijaya to collect three points at struggling Semen Padang and stay top with 60 points from 31 games, six clear of both PSMS and Persija.

Christian Gonzalez made it 28 for the season as Persik beat PSIS in the evening game and they move five points clear of Persela who could only manage a 2-2 draw in Malang.

Persib Bandung, who have led the league for so long, now find themselves in 6th spot on 47 points, six points behind 4th placed Persik. On Saturday they travel to Persita who also harbour an outside chance of Top 4 play off football.

In the Eastern Division Sidoarjo Deltras, without Jose Sebastian and Hilton Moriera still managed to hit four past hapless Persigi Bali to climb up to second, level on points with Persipura, with two games left. In the other game PSIM were held to a 1-1 draw by Persebaya, only their second away point of the season and Lucky Wahyu's second in two game.

Srwijaya are the only team guaranteed in the Big 8 Play Offs at the moment. Things are tightest in the Eastern Division where 10 points separate the top 10 teams.

1 - Persipura 30 games played 55 points
2 - Deltras 32 55
3 - Persiwa 30 52
4 - Arema 31 52
5 - Persiter 30 51
6 - Persmin 30 50
7 - Persiba 31 49
8 - PSM 30 48

A crucial weekend coming up, I'll do a preview later tonight if I don't go to the pub!

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Thursday, December 13, 2007

 

Persija v Persitara 2-1

In a cracking Jakarta Derby Liga Indonesia delivered a raised middle finger to the buffoons in the FA whose inaction has so shamed football on the international stage.

In a hard fought, though sporting, match Persija thoroughly desrved three points against their city rivals for who keeper Dagang played a major role. Some unorthodox, though vital, stops by the goalie belied the fact that in a first half challenge with Bambang he was nearly out cold and had medics from both clubs trying to kick start him back to life while players from both sides looked on anxiously.

The first half was pretty even but Aliyudin's smart volley on 35 minutes was probably deserved. Right on half time Itimi Dickson, Persitara's Singaporean import did a Ronaldo, dived with minimal contact and won his side a penalty. Bationo's smartly taken penalty meant all was square at half time.

Second half was all Persija with Robertinho, Aliyudin and Bambang all going close while Hamkah's surging runs down the inside right channel were always dangerous. Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto scorned a couple of chances for North Jakarta but it was Persija who deservedly broke the deadlock.

Robertinho, the classy Argentinian who has impressed in his short spell with the Jak, danced through three or four challenges before sticking the ball past the keeper to give Persija the lead. It was no more than they deserved and if coach Ismet has any doubts about his team it can only be about their inability to kill the game dead. They had the chances.

Persija now have 54 points off 31 games and are assured a place in next season's Liga Super. On Sunday they host leaders Sriwijaya at Lebuk Belus.

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Arema v PKT Bontang 3-1

Ultimately Arema, inspired by Ronni and Morales, comfortably brushed aside their visitors from Borneo yesterday afternoon but maybe the main story refers to Emile Mbamba.

The 26 year old Cameroonian was substituted on 25 minutes and as he trudged slowly off the pitch he took his shirt off and flung it down at the Arema bench. Ignoring the proffered drink he carried on walking down the tunnel and perhaps out of Indonesian football?

Mbamba has shone in his short spell here and it would be a shame to see him move on but in the lead up to his replacement his body language wasn't the body language of a team player as he waved his arms round in frsutration each time a colleague took the 'wrong option' or filed a pass astray.

Arema get back in the Top 4 and now look forward to a home game with Persiba this weekend as they aim for the play offs.

On Sunday I met Yuli, the conductor of the Arema fan club at a movie premier in Jakarta where he was busy, and perhaps a little nonplussed, signing autographs. Yesterday back on the terraces of his beloved Arema perched on the fences he was leading the faithful in their passionate support for the Crazy Lions.

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Dortmund ticket sales

The PSSI have released 41,500 tickets for the prestige friendly next Wednesday at Bung Karno Stadium.

Their are three categories and the prices are as follows:

VIP - 100,000 rupiah
Category 2 - 50,000
Category 3 - 20,000

Tickets go on sale, possibly, maybe, on 18th December from the PSSI offices at Bung Karno

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Dortmund announce squad

Goalkeepers
Roman Weidenfeller
Marc Ziegler
Defenders
Martin Amedick
Markus Brzenska
Dede (Brasil)
Robert Kovac (Croatia)
Cristian Worns
Midfielders
Jaukb Blaszczykowski (Poland)
Giovanni Federico
Daniel Gordon (England)
Sebastian Kehl
Florian Kringe
Marc-Andres Kruska
Sebastian Tyrala
Strikers
Delron Buckley (South Africa)
Diego Fernando Klimowicz (Argentina)
Mladen Petric (Croatia)
Nelson Valdez (Paraguay)

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Wednesday, December 12, 2007

 

Banned Noh Alam Shah to Pelita Jaya?

Pelita Jaya coach Fandi Ahmad is watching the case of banned Singaporean striker Noh Alam Shah with great interest.

The Singapore legend would be interested in bringing the banned striker to Pelita Jaya next season but much depends on when the Indonesian season finishes.

Noh's 12 month suspension applies only to the SLeague so the prolific striker, currently with Tampines Rovers, would be free to chance his arm in Indonesia.

Pelita Jaya lie 11th at the moment, two points and two places off a place that would guarantee the Purwakarta based team a spot in next season's revampled Liga Super.

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Indonesian clubs excluded from Asian Champions League

Next Monday sees the draw for the Asian Champions League 2008 featuring 28 of Asia's best club sides. Missing from that draw will be any team from Indonesia.

Thanks to an ever extended Liga that began, late, back in February that is still a month away from being finished the AFC have decided not to enter any local teams. For those who keep an eye on this sort of stuff it is the second time in three years Indonesia players have been deprived of playing at the highest level. Back in 2006 the registrations were sent in late.

With a three month delay for the Asian Cup followed by a one month delay for the fasting month this season is dragging on longer than a local soap opera.

Local FA officials are at pains to point out this is not a suspension and they're right it's not. It's just an enormous balls up. Further sanctions could come if the case of the FA head, doing jail at the moment, isn't sorted in line with FIFA statutes soon.

The two Indonesian slots have been handed to Thai Premier League runners-up Krung Thai Bank and Vietnam National Cup holders Nam Dinh.

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Arema unhappy

Arema Malang, looking to gatecrash the Liga play offs are unhappy Benny Dollo, their former coach, has called up three of their players for next week's Liga Select friendly with Germans' Borussia Dortmund. Noting their main rivals have had no call ups Arema are considering withdrawing Ortisan Solossa, Elie Aiboy and Ponaryo Astaman from the game next Wednesday.

Arema host PKT Bontang today before playing Persiba. Their last two games are away at Persgi Bali and Persebaya Surabaya.

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Alam Shah out for 12 months

Tampines Rovers Singaporean striker Nor Alam Shah, who spectacularly hit seven past Laos earlier this year, has been suspended from Singapore football for 12 months after being involved in a violent incident at the end of the Singapore Cup Final recently against SAF.

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Monday, December 10, 2007

 

Fixture changes

Borussia Dortmund's visit next week means the bread and butter of Liga Indonesia must be rearranged. The following games will now be played on Saturday 15th to allow key players to play in the 'prestige' friendly.

Persita v Persib
PSMS v Persikabo
Psm v Persiter

 

Firman Utina (Persita)

Like his coach Benny Dollo, Persita's 65 kg midfield player Firman is aiming for a hattrick of Copa's this season and his late goal against Pelita Jaya yesterday has left them in the driving seat before the second leg in Purwakarta.

Born in Manado in 1981, Firman joined Persita in 200 and spent four seasons there before following boss Dollo to Arema for a couple of successful years. He returned to Persita at the start of this season.

He has been selected for the Liga Select against Borussia Dortmund next Wednesday

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Persis win in Borneo

Sriwijaya v PSSB 4-1 15,000 (Carlos Renato Elias 2, Kayamba 2:Maman)
Persitara v PSMS 0-0 10,000
PSDS V Persik 3-2 4,000 (Yuganda, Anazco, Marvelous:Khusnul, Gonzalez)
Persiraja v Persema 0-0 10,000

Persiba v Persijap 1-0 6,000 (Cesar)
Persibom v Persekabpas 4-2 5,000 (Javier 2, Claudio, Villalbal:Rolon, Villasanti)
Persma v Arema 0-0 8,000
Persebaya v PSM 2-2 25,000 (Vallejos, Lucky Wayhu:Handi Hamzah, Baretto)
Persigi v Perseman 1-0 4,000 (Nyoman)
PKT Bontang v Persis 0-2 4,000 (Wijiastanto, Widodo)

Some great names on the score sheet as Yuganda, Handi and Lucky all scored. Marvellous! A ding dong affair in Surabaya saw a pitch invasion, PSM score twice in three minutes and your man Lucky restore parity all in 6 crazy footballing minutes.

Gonzalez made it 26 for the season but even he couldn't prevent Persik Kediri going down 3-1 at PSDS.

Persitara's fine run recently has seen them reach the heady height of seventh, level on points with Persib and Persela. 30 points from 30 games tells its own story methinks. Interestingly enough PSDS have scored more than that in home games alone, another three against Persik giving them 33 at home. And five away! Now, how does that happen?

 

Arsenal outclassed at Boro

Yeap, we lost a game. That's it, it's all over and Wenger will be collecting his P45 this morning instead of his Christmas bonus. Boro showed the good old English bulldog spirit, working hard, closing down, harrying defenders, they deserved three points. The thing is though Arsenal will play better this season. Will Gareth Southgate's men reach that level again or was it just a one off? To be safe from relegation Boro need that performance week in, week out, not just when the big boys come a calling.

Liverpool also lost and Rafa complained about the penalty that wasn't given, conceded ironically by Jamie Carragher. He got away with dead certs against Everton and Arsenal but the ref's union penalise him against Reading when he was, for once, innocent. Good performance by Reading and wasn't there just a Henryesque touch about Harper's goal?

Derby scored away from home! Talking dodgy penalties, Ronaldo falling then colliding with the defender's leg anyone? Still United, in the rain, did what they had to do and keep the pressure on the Arse.

Chelsea continued with their run of easy fixtures since Avram Grant replaced Jose, another win and what happened to the protests eh Chelsea fans?

Everton won 3-0 and continued their recent fine run with Yakubu taking on the goal scoring responsibilities by getting a hat trick. Just 32,000 there is a bit of a worry.

Portsmouth's fairy tale season continued with a convincing 3-1 victory against Aston Villa who could not replicate their form against Arsenal. Odd that. Neither could Blackburn who lost at home to West Ham while Newcastle will take three points from a last gasp victory that lacked the inspirational qualities they showed also against Arsenal. It's all very well getting up for the Arsenal but these middling teams need to do it against Boltons and Wigans every bloody game, not just against us.

 

Persita v Pelita Jaya 1-0

Persita take a slim one goal lead in the second leg of this Copa Indonesia Q/F thanks to Firman Utina's late winner in front of 15,000 fans at Benteng Stadium.

The second leg takes place early January in Purwakarta.

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The Conductors

I've mentioned on here before the beauty of the spectacle. Seeing thousands of football fans on the Indonesian terraces moving as one body, one soul. One team. It doesn't just happen like that. They have a conductor who rehearese and prepares them for their every move.

Yusef Andibachtiar, the man behind The Jak, has just released his new movie, The Conductors, and I was lucky enough to get the to opening night preview at Grand Indonesia in Jakarta with assorted music types as well as film buffs and Persija and Arema fans.

The movie looks at the similarities between conducting a choir, a symphonic orchestra and a fan filled terrace and it works very well. Yusuf followed Yuli, the 'conductor' of the Arema Malang fan club, Aremania, as he guides 10,000 voices while someone from an altogether different background takes an orchestra to Pahang in Malaysia.

Rich or poor, people always want to be part of something and music can give that sense of belonging. Be it the kampung kids on the terraces or the elite with their cello or university kids with their sopranos.

The movie will be shown at the Jakarta International Film Festival.

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Sunday, December 09, 2007

 

Srwijaya go 6 clear

Sriwijaya, like many teams here, are virtually impregnable at home having won 12 and drawn two. Yesterday was unlucky 13. Unlucky for PSSB who got thumped 4-1 in a Sumatran mismatch. Still, at least they scored. It was only their seventh away goal of the season and the 6th conceded by Sriwijaya at home.

PSMS move second on goal difference ahead of Persija after their goalless draw at Persitara.

Today Persik won't be looking forward to their game at PSDS who have lost once at home all season.

Elsewhere Arema drew 0-0 at Persma while Persibom beat Persekabpas 4-2

Saturday, December 08, 2007

 

Indonesia flop in SEA Games

I won't go into too much detail about this. Suffice to say having lost to hosts Thailand Indonesia are now looking for cheap flights back to Jakarta.

However for Ivan Kolev, Indonesia's Bulgarian born coach, to suggest the team lacked preparation, as he does here, is nonsense. What was that month in August then? A waste of money?

Kolev then goes on to blame the lack of forwards. Nothing that hasn't been mentioned before.

The problem in Indonesia regarding their football team is a familiar one to fans of the England team. Lots of hype and hot air but little to back the bluster.

Spending money sending the team overseas, last year Netherlands, this time Argentina has proved to be a monumental misuse of stretched resources and eminently futile. To prepare to play Myanmar they played Argentinian Under 20 teams???!!!

Where next for Kolev? As I intimated the other day it's interesting that it was Benny Dollo who was selected to prepare the Liga Select for the Dortmund game. Kolev's contract I believe ends after the SEA Games so he could well be looking for a new job.

But whoever takes on the poisoned barb will have the same problems. Stamina, strength, creativity, potency in front of goal. The same problems that I highlighted :

here
here
here
and here

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Persitara v PSMS 0-0

Both teams will be happy with a point from this game as Medan again showed their defensive prowress in front of a packed Kamal Muara Stadium. But it could have been so different in the last minute of injury time as Markus Horison fumbled a straightforward catch but Batiano Germain, instead of passing to the free Kurniawan DY, went for a flash overhead kick that still hasn't come down.

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Asian Champions League 2008

The draw for next season's ACL takes place on 17th December with just 26 out of 28 clubs known. The two missing clubs of course from here...Indonesia.

The Copa and Liga winners won't be decided till at least a month later. It remains to be seen if the invitation to compete still applies by then.

Indonesia of course failed to send any participants in 2006 because they did not send off the club details, Arema and Persipura, in time.

Please, no laughing at the back...

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Manchester United chase petrodollar

Manchester United, in their quest for Champions League, Permier League and FA Cup glory will take themselves to Saudi Arabia to earn a few shekels as well as play Al Hilal on January 21. Two days after playing Reading which at least has the advantage of being close to Heathrow.

Fergie has often said players play too many games and has called for a winter break. Now you know why. It ain't nothing to do with resting the players. It's so the club can take their brand on the road and make money, money , money.

In football's greed there is no thought or interest in human rights and with a woman in Saudi Arabia sentenced to receive 200 lashes because she was gangraped United send out a clear signal. A la Bob Geldof at Live Aid, just give us your money.

The words obscene and hypocritical spring to mind.

In a day when multi nationals at least pay lip service to the notion of corporate social responsibilty United, and indeed football, carry on regardless.

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Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto (Persitara)

With 25 teenagers heading to Uruguay for a 4 year development programme in January it might be interesting to look back at one of the successes from the last time Indonesia sent her youth overseas.

Back in 1993 Kurniawan DY was among those selected to go to Sampdoria for a couple of years and his career started promisingly.

In 1994 DY moved to Lucerne in Switzerland and spent a couple of years in the idyllic lakeside town but there were rumours of a hectic nightlife and in 1996 he returned to Indonesia with Pelita Jaya.

He spent three years there before moving to PSM in 1999. In 2002 he packed his bags again and moved from Sulawesi to Sumatra, lining up with PSPS Pekanbaru.

Since then he has had more clubs than a crap player in Batam. Persabaya, Persija, Sarawak (Malaysia), PSS and now Persitara.

With Kurniawan you can't help but think he should have made more of his talent. 10 goals in 27 games for Persitara shows he still has an eye for goal and let's face it; Indonesia is poorly supplied in the goal scoring stakes.

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Friday, December 07, 2007

 

Borussia Dortmund's schedule

Thomas Doll, who I saw play a few teams for Bayer Leverkusen, arrives with his Dortmund team on 17th December and I for one would love to see the reaction of the party when they have to queue up for their visa on arrival. Then queue up for immigration. Then wait an age for their baggage.

On the 18th they hold a coaching clinic at Senayan in the morning and sod the jetlag. In the afternoon they have a press conference, tour the Bung Karno Stadium then have a nose bag with various types who crawl out the woodwork at times like this.

The game in on the 19th with a 5pm kick off.

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Squad to face Dortmund

Liga Select coach Benny Dollo has said he wants to build his squad to face German side BVB around the Asian Cup side. Names selected so far include:

Keeper: Markus Horison (PSMS), Rotinsulu (Sriwijaya)
Defenders: Yulianto (Sriwijaya), Abdurahman (PSIS), Ridwan (PSIS), Nasir (PSMS)
Midfield : Astaman (Arema), Firman Utina (Persita), Legimin Raharjo (PSMS), Mahyadi (PSMS)
Strikers: Budi Sudarsono (Persik), Bambang & Aliyudin (Persija), Elie Aiboy (Arema)

 

Aldo Barreto (PSM)

26 year old Paraguayan striker Aldo has had a busy season so far for PSM Makassar. His team have hardly set the Eastern Division on fire as they chase a Play off place but Barreto has done his bit chipping in with 11 goals in 27 games including three in the last two.

He started his career in Paraguay with El Mensu before spending a couple of seasons with Cerro Porteno. After one season in Guarani he headed east, or is it west from South America, and joined up with Thailand's BEC Tero in 2004. After a couple of years in Bangkok, what a bitch hey, he joined PSM last year.

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Persik get lucky

Persiraja v Persik 1-1 9,000 (Teles : Suswanto)
PSDS v Persema 0-0 5,000

Persebaya v Perseman 2-1 6,000 ( Kettor, Ballah : Fakdawar)
Persigi v PSM 2-2 4,000 (Belibi, Aravena : Baretto, Sakibou)

Persik got out of jail yesterday when a last minute goal from Suswanto saved their blushes at struggling Persiraja.

Another big club struggled at a minnow when PSM could only draw in Bali in a topsy turvey game. Persigi took the lead, PSM equalised. PSM took the lead and then Persigi pulled one back. And all in the first half don't you know?

Thursday, December 06, 2007

 

Sidoarjo v Persija 1-1

Great cup tie this with thrills, spills and a red card for Ismed Sofyan.

The Deltras, in front of a large passionate home crowd, took an early lead and for long stages cruised the game with Pronetto and Moriera particularly dangerous.

However Persija hadn't come to make up the numbers and early in the second half both Bambang and Robertinho went close.

It was no surprise when a deep cross from the right was met by Bambang, called up for the Liga Select to play Borussia Dortmund, headed across the face of goal and Ruben Ceco, just on for Aliyudin, headed home firmly. He celebrated by jumping bum first into the sand pit in front of the home supporters which encouraged a barrage of plastic water bottles.

With 15 minutes left coach Sergei Dubrovin decided to shut the gates, a risky decision against a side featuring such quality as Pronetto and Jose Sebastian, by replacing Bambang with Wayan. Both teams ended the game with a Latino forward line.

Careless defending in and around the box by Persija was another risking tactic and Robertinho pulling some chap down on 19 yards invited trouble but Sebastian lashed it wide of Persija's Moldovan keeper Evgeny.

In the last few minutes the Deltras lay seige to the Persija goal but Evgeny was commanding and Persija deserved the result.

Second leg is 3rd January at Lebuk Bulus.

 

Jakmania on the road

Yesterday afternoon some 350 Persija fans gathered at Pasar Senen Station in Jakarta to catch a train east to Sidoarjo, hopefully arriving in plenty of time for this afternoon's Copa First Leg. In contrast around half a dozen flew to Makassar in the last round.

Along the way they were welcomed at Semarang by members of the PSIS supporters club while in Lamongan, home of Persela, the home teams fans, LA Mania, provided the visiting hordes with refreshment and washing facilities.

After their brief halt they make their way by truck and bus to Sidoarjo for the game.

It's a nice story but one that wouldn't normally see the light of day in a media that loves stereotypes and feeds off agency reports rather than actual reporting.

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Persitara continue to rise

Sriwijaya v PSMS 2-0 15,000 (Lenglolo 2)
Persitara v PSSB 1-0 10,000 (Batiano Germain)

Persibom v Arema 1-0 10,000 (Chloma)
Persma v Persekabpas 2-1 5,000 (Carares pen, Bazan: Sukadana)

Sriwijaya bit the bullet and went three points clear in the Western Group in yesterday's all Sumatran affair with a couple from Lenglolo giving him 13 for the season so far. In Jakarta Persitara continued their recent fine form with a scrapped 1-0 win over bottom team PSSB for who Mendieta impressed.

Arema lost a chance to break back into the Top 4 when they lost up in Sulawesi but Persibom, the hosts, have lost just once at home all season. Arema have games in hand though on the leading pack.

Today sees Persik travel to Persiraja while PSM visit Bali and join the current gob fest on saving the planet. Hopefully they find time to take a vital three points off Persigi Bali.

Also in action today are Persija who play the Copa Q/F first leg against Sidoarjo in East Java.

Wednesday, December 05, 2007

 

Pelita Jaya's mixed Malaysian bag

Fandi Ahmad's Pelita Jaya returned from Malaysia having played a couple of friendlies as preparation for their upcoming Copa Indonesia battles.
They beat Premier League Shazan Muda 3-0 in their first game before going down 2-1 to Malaysian Super Leg Pahang in their second.
On Sunday they play their Copa Indonesia Quarter Final First Leg at Benteng Stadium against Benny Dollo's Persita. Benny of course is on a Copa hat trick having won in 2005 and 2006 with Arema.
As if that ain't enough for Fandi and his men they face a battle to climb into the Top 9 that would ensure Liga Super football next season.
In their final league fixtures they play PSS on 19th December, before hosting Persib Bandung in a West Java derby three days later.
On 27th December they travel to Cibinong to play Persikabo in another derby before finishing their Liga campaign at Persikota on 30th December.
Their second leg at home to Persita is 8th January at their Purnawarman Stadium.

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FC Bayern Munchen, jezts gehts los

With Borussia Dortmund on the horizon hopes are high here that another German giant will visit Jakarta next year. Apparently Bayern Munchen may well pop in either before or after the Euro Championships under the same arrangement as BVB. Namely part of the DFB's programme to widen the appeal of German football in Asia.

Also in December Energie Cottbus play a couple of games in China.

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Thais fret about cold weather

This is taken from the ASEAN football website and I thought it funny because tonight in England Arsenal prepare to take on Newcastle in one of the grimmest climates in a grim climate country.

Defending champions Thailand are worried about the cooler conditions in Nakhon Ratchasima – the venue of the SEA Games this year - which they felt could be a factor in their defence of the men’s football title.Thongsuk Sumpahangsit, the head coach for Thailand, said that with the evening weather in Korat dipping below 20 Degrees Celcius, it will be important that the players take good care of themselves.“There are no worries with injuries but the cold weather conditions particularly in the evening in the province could affect the players,” said Thongsuk.

Oh but it's tough in the tropics...

I think it's fair to say the Thais may worry more about the cold than about facing Indonesia later this week

 

Javier Roca still scoring

Javier Roca, released by Persija halfway through the season, led his new club Persiba Balikpapan to a convincing 4-1 victory over visitors Persis Solo yesterday with a brace.

In the other game PKT Botang beat fading Persijap 3-1.

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Dortmund game again

No idea about tickets but I imagine they will be available on the day.

In what appears to be a sensible move by the authorities here the friendly match with Borussia Dortmund will see a Liga Select line up against the Germans.

Only players, both foreign and local, not involved in Liga Indonesia games immediately prior to the Dortmund game will be called up. That's a good decision as it ensures the primacy of the domestic while game while at the same time recognising the value of a quality European side visit these shores.

Also of interest is the choice of coach for the Select. Ivan Kolev has been overlooked, perhaps he wants to get home for Christmas, and Persita coach Benny Dollo will take time out from his pursuit of a Top 4 place as well as Copa glory to prepare the team that could well include the Persik pair of Gonzalez and Fagundez.

Does this mean Bendo, as he is familiarly known here, is being groomed to replace Kolev should the SEA Games end in debacle? Obviously Benny is saying nothing but tongues wag.

The other slant of course is that with many other clubs in domestic action that week Benny is the only coach available...but if I recall Persita were due to host Persib 24 hours before the prestige friendly at Bung Karno.

Interesting eh?

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