Friday, March 26, 2010
Fare Thee Well, PSMS?
Two years ago they finished runners up to Sriwijaya in the old format Liga Indonesia. Last season they battled valiantly in the AFC Cup while battling relegation. A battle they lost.
PSMS are a lesson in how not to run a football clu. Instead of building on the success of 07/08 the team was allowed to fall apart as people sat around waiting for money to fall in their deserving laps.
The money of course never came. Their stadium wasn't up to scratch and the team from Medan, North Sumatra were forced to play their home games first at Bung Karno, Jakarta then Siliwangi Stadium in Bandung.
That didn't help. Nor did a revolving door policy over the coach. They changed coaches last season more times than I changed my socks.
A team masquerading as PSMS are back playing in their spiritual Medan but they stare a second consecutive relegation in the face. They are tied in a three way dog fight with PSDS and Persires and the only thing they have going for them is their last two games are at home which should give them a slight advantage.
Today they host Persih. Lose that and everything will be set up for their last game of the season against fellow struggler Persires on Tuesday.
PSMS are one of Indonesia's glamour clubs. Back in the 1980s they played Arsenal in a friendly. Now they face the ignimony of life in the amateur leagues of Indonesian football. Judging by the fans website, they are already there.
PSMS are a lesson in how not to run a football clu. Instead of building on the success of 07/08 the team was allowed to fall apart as people sat around waiting for money to fall in their deserving laps.
The money of course never came. Their stadium wasn't up to scratch and the team from Medan, North Sumatra were forced to play their home games first at Bung Karno, Jakarta then Siliwangi Stadium in Bandung.
That didn't help. Nor did a revolving door policy over the coach. They changed coaches last season more times than I changed my socks.
A team masquerading as PSMS are back playing in their spiritual Medan but they stare a second consecutive relegation in the face. They are tied in a three way dog fight with PSDS and Persires and the only thing they have going for them is their last two games are at home which should give them a slight advantage.
Today they host Persih. Lose that and everything will be set up for their last game of the season against fellow struggler Persires on Tuesday.
PSMS are one of Indonesia's glamour clubs. Back in the 1980s they played Arsenal in a friendly. Now they face the ignimony of life in the amateur leagues of Indonesian football. Judging by the fans website, they are already there.
# posted by Me @ 7:39 AM 
