Jakarta Casual

The Indonesia Super League started on Sunday less with a bang and more with a whimper with just five games. Indeed the opening day had a rather disjointed, stilted feel to it; much like an Indonesian season in fact.

Sriwijaya entered the Lion’s Den on Saturday, better known as the Kanjuruhan Stadium, and came away with their seventh trophy in three years as they defeated champions Arema to retain the Community Shield. After the game new Arema coach Miroslav Janu apologized to the Arema support. A nice gesture and one I would appreciate Arsene Wenger replicating after Arsenal’s shocking defeat on Saturday.

The West Sumatran city hosted a couple of games on Sunday with local heroes, and newly promoted, Semen Padang hosting last season’s runners up Persipura. Liberian striker Edward Wilson Junior, so prolific over the last couple of seasons in the second tier Premier League, showed he can score among the big boys, giving the home team a seventh minute lead. Boas Solossa celebrated receiving the captain’s armband and being recalled to the national team with an equalizer after 20 minutes and that finished the scoring.

The second game featured PSPS Pekanbaru and Persija. PSPS had been forced to play their home games away from their own Rumbai Stadium while renovations were carried out and given their formidable home form this was an ideal opportunity for Persija to get a good result.

Persija were two goals up within 20 minutes with goals from veterans Ismed Sofyan and bambang Pamungkas. However April pulled one back before half time and last season’s top scorer. Dzumafo, made it 2-2 on 52’. PSPS midfielder Alamsyah was red carded with 10 minutes to go.

Third place Persiba have a new look about with former Persijap coach Junaedi at the helm. They were however made to battle hard by newly promoted Persibo in a game played at the Brawijaya Stadium in Kediri. Samsul Arif, back with Persibo after a year with Persela, gave the home team the lead before Sultan Samma equalized some 10 minutes later.

The biggest crowd of the day, 14,000, saw Persijap take on PSM in Jepara with both sides boasting new foreign coaches. It was Robert Alberts who enjoyed the day more, watching new signing Andi Odang score the only goal of the game right on half time.

The scarcity of goals elsewhere means that Pelita Jaya are the early leaders after they thumped Persiwa 4-0 in Karawang in an evening game. Egi Mardiansyah, Tomoyuki Sakai, Jajang Mulyana and Andesi Setyo fired the Young Guns to the top of the nascent table with a busy week ahead.

On Tuesday Persib will want to foget about the off field drama last week by getting off to a good start at the Surajaya Stadium, always a tricky venue, against Persela. Champions Arema play Persisam on Wednesday while Bontang host Persema and Deltras take on Sriwijaya.

And while some teams are busy playing their first games of the season Persijap host Persiba in their second and Persibo play PSM.