Saturday, February 11, 2012
Persidafon's Experience Not Showing
Newly promoted Persidafon have become the ISL's whipping boys. Back to back thumpings, 5-0 at Sriwijaya, 5-2 at Persiram, have left them 15th in the 18 team league with nine points from their opening 11 games. Of concern to Sergei Dubrovin will be a defence that has leaked 30 goals in that time; an ignominy they share with fellow Papuans Persiram.
Three times in their last four games have they let in five goals; the other being a 5-4 home defeat by Persela.
Moldovan Dubrovin is no stranger to Indonesian football having coached Petrokimia to the title at the start of the century but he is finding things much harder this time round despite having a number of experienced pros at his disposal.
Argentine defender Marcello Cirelli has been around a few years now including Persebaya while Christian Waroboy is an old warhorse who has been upsetting opposing fans for yonks and includes Sriwijaya and the national team on his resume.
Then we have one time Singapore international Itimi Dickson. He played for teams like Jurong, Young Lions and Woodlands Wellington before first moving to Indonesia with Persitara in 2007. He never settled and was back with Home United and Geylang before switching to Persidafon.
Upfront there is the wonderfully named Claude Parfait Ngon A Djam. The Cameroonian international, check out his Jakarta Casual TV interview, was part of the national team that earned a runners up place at the 2003 Confederation Cup alongside Pierre Njanka and Samuel E'to but has been in Indonesia since 2008.
A successful first season with Sriwijaya was followed by an injury stricken time with Persebaya and against Persiram there were times when he seemed off the pace and it was no surprise he was substituted.
On the bench is the evergreen Eduard Ivakdalam. The former international and Persipura midfielder is one of the most respected players in the country but age is catching up even with him now.
With all that experience and the youthful exuberance of striker Patirck Wanggai, coach Dubrovin would feel entitled to expect more from his team than a succession of heavy defeats.
# posted by Me @ 4:09 AM 
