Friday, October 26, 2012
Pelita Jaya Bought Out Surprise
After weeks of speculation that Arema would merge with Pelita Jaya comes news that Pelita Jaya have been bought by Bandung Raya, currently playing in the semi professional set up.
A surprise move but one that makes better sense than any proposed merger with Arema.
No news yet on what the new club will be named or where they will play.
It's certainly a strange move though and perhaps is an indication of Bandung Raya's ambition but is Bandung big enough for two top clubs? The city is 100% Persib blue as is much of the province. Pelita Jaya have tried several times to make in roads in the market hosting games in Purwakarta, Soreang and Karawang but have failed to make any real impact while second tier Persipasi Bekasi have relied on their closeness to Jakarta to differentiate themselves from the rest of the province.
Bandung also saw a short lived second team when Bandung FC joined the Indonesia Premier League but they struggled to attract supporters and at one stage played home games in Kuningan before effectively calling it a day halfway through their first season.
Pelita Jaya's previous owners were the Bakries of course, prime movers at the ISL and the KPSI. They have been identified with Pelita Jaya so long does this sale tell us anything about a potential drawback from football or do they intend to put all their eggs into one Arema basket?
Where this leaves the likes of Safee Sali and Greg Nwokolo remains to be seen.
Last season they were also involved with PSMS and Deltras.
Bandung Raya are not unknown in Indonesian football. They won the first ever Liga Indonesia back in the mid 1990s.
A surprise move but one that makes better sense than any proposed merger with Arema.
No news yet on what the new club will be named or where they will play.
It's certainly a strange move though and perhaps is an indication of Bandung Raya's ambition but is Bandung big enough for two top clubs? The city is 100% Persib blue as is much of the province. Pelita Jaya have tried several times to make in roads in the market hosting games in Purwakarta, Soreang and Karawang but have failed to make any real impact while second tier Persipasi Bekasi have relied on their closeness to Jakarta to differentiate themselves from the rest of the province.
Bandung also saw a short lived second team when Bandung FC joined the Indonesia Premier League but they struggled to attract supporters and at one stage played home games in Kuningan before effectively calling it a day halfway through their first season.
Pelita Jaya's previous owners were the Bakries of course, prime movers at the ISL and the KPSI. They have been identified with Pelita Jaya so long does this sale tell us anything about a potential drawback from football or do they intend to put all their eggs into one Arema basket?
Where this leaves the likes of Safee Sali and Greg Nwokolo remains to be seen.
Last season they were also involved with PSMS and Deltras.
Bandung Raya are not unknown in Indonesian football. They won the first ever Liga Indonesia back in the mid 1990s.
# posted by Me @ 8:18 AM 
