Friday, September 18, 2009
The Fall of PSMS & Deltras
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. They were ultimately defeated by Sriwijaya in the Grand Final.
But what a team they had.
In goal there was Markus Horison who made his international debut during that year. The ever grinning Markus left Medan at the end of that season and joined Arcan Iurie's fantasy football at Persik but financial woes saw the break up of that experiment by the middle of the season and Markus returned to PSMS during the transfer window. He was unable however to prevent them getting relegated.
He was not alone in making the journey to East Java. Joining him were Legimin Raharjo, Mahyadi Panggabean, Usep Munandar and Saktiawan Sinaga. A few good Batak names in that little lot and a group full of international experience.
Julien Mbom Mbom moved to Persema which, as you probably can guess buy now, is in East Java before chasing the sun rise to Persiram (an ambitious IPL club managed by Raja Isa, formerly of Persipura) while Murphy Komunple is now back in Liberia
Boy Jati Asmara also headed east, ironically to Deltras, while James Koko Lomel, after a spell last season with Pelita Jaya is now in the middle east somewhere as is Frank Seator. Elegant playmaker Gustavo Chena also joined the sinking ship Deltras after a short spell in Malaysia with Perlis and is now reported to be trialling with another relegated side, PSIS. And Tommy Pranata has turned up in Arema.
Coach Freddy Muli found out he wasn't wanted and moved, coincidentally enough, to East Java but with Premier League side Persebaya. A storming first half to the season saw the Green Force miles clear at the top of the table but come the mid season break Muli left.
Of course just after the class of 2007 broke up PSMS had to compete in the AFC Cup with a side hastily cobbled together at the last minute and suffering from having seemingly a new coach every month.
Similar misfortune befell Deltras after a promosing season.
Coach Jaya Hartono, rather than being allowed to build on his relative success was allowed to move on to Persib and he took with him Hariono and Brazilian striker Hilton Moreira. Christian Martinez, one of the three amigo Latin imports in that team, stayed for one more season but he has now folowed Jaya et all.
Jose Sebastian took his flowing locks down a division to Persibom, a strange move indeed, while Claudio Pranetto, the 3rd amigo, stayed in the top flight with PSM. Mlky Pelky went on to be a bench warmer with Persija impressing few people with his prowess either there or on the pitch while midielder Sasa Brazenac moved, I think, to Malaysia.
One other high profile from Sidoarjo was Airlangga Sucipto who moved to Persib along wth the rest of the gang.
Football is full of ifs. But fans of Deltras and PSMS, as they contemplate life in the lower leagues, can't help but wonder what would have happened had they been able to keep the Class of 2007 together.
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. They were ultimately defeated by Sriwijaya in the Grand Final.
But what a team they had.
In goal there was Markus Horison who made his international debut during that year. The ever grinning Markus left Medan at the end of that season and joined Arcan Iurie's fantasy football at Persik but financial woes saw the break up of that experiment by the middle of the season and Markus returned to PSMS during the transfer window. He was unable however to prevent them getting relegated.
He was not alone in making the journey to East Java. Joining him were Legimin Raharjo, Mahyadi Panggabean, Usep Munandar and Saktiawan Sinaga. A few good Batak names in that little lot and a group full of international experience.
Julien Mbom Mbom moved to Persema which, as you probably can guess buy now, is in East Java before chasing the sun rise to Persiram (an ambitious IPL club managed by Raja Isa, formerly of Persipura) while Murphy Komunple is now back in Liberia
Boy Jati Asmara also headed east, ironically to Deltras, while James Koko Lomel, after a spell last season with Pelita Jaya is now in the middle east somewhere as is Frank Seator. Elegant playmaker Gustavo Chena also joined the sinking ship Deltras after a short spell in Malaysia with Perlis and is now reported to be trialling with another relegated side, PSIS. And Tommy Pranata has turned up in Arema.
Coach Freddy Muli found out he wasn't wanted and moved, coincidentally enough, to East Java but with Premier League side Persebaya. A storming first half to the season saw the Green Force miles clear at the top of the table but come the mid season break Muli left.
Of course just after the class of 2007 broke up PSMS had to compete in the AFC Cup with a side hastily cobbled together at the last minute and suffering from having seemingly a new coach every month.
Similar misfortune befell Deltras after a promosing season.
Coach Jaya Hartono, rather than being allowed to build on his relative success was allowed to move on to Persib and he took with him Hariono and Brazilian striker Hilton Moreira. Christian Martinez, one of the three amigo Latin imports in that team, stayed for one more season but he has now folowed Jaya et all.
Jose Sebastian took his flowing locks down a division to Persibom, a strange move indeed, while Claudio Pranetto, the 3rd amigo, stayed in the top flight with PSM. Mlky Pelky went on to be a bench warmer with Persija impressing few people with his prowess either there or on the pitch while midielder Sasa Brazenac moved, I think, to Malaysia.
One other high profile from Sidoarjo was Airlangga Sucipto who moved to Persib along wth the rest of the gang.
Football is full of ifs. But fans of Deltras and PSMS, as they contemplate life in the lower leagues, can't help but wonder what would have happened had they been able to keep the Class of 2007 together.
# posted by Me @ 12:40 PM 
