Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Persibo's Humiliation
Persibo Bojonegoro and Indonesian football would have been
better served had they rejected the opportunity to compete in the 2013 AFC Cup.
They are playing in Asia’s second tier club competition by dint of winning the
Indonesia Cup last season but they do have the feel of a professional football
club this season.
They lost their first game in the AFC Cup 3-0 away to Yangon
United. OK fair enough, away games are always tough but more so in this part of
the world where a two or three hour flight can take you to a completely
different culture and players here are not the most widely travelled people.
Next up was New Radiant at Solo’s Manahan Stadium. They
couldn’t play the game in Bojonegoro because their own ground isn’t up to AFC
standards. New Radiant come from the Maldives, an island nation, like Indonesia,
that boasts a population less than the district of the home team but that
amounted to zilch as they returned home with a 7-0 win!
Another home game saw Persibo take on Hong Kong side Sunray
Cave and despite leading at one stage had to make do with a 3-3 draw giving
them their first point.
Then to Hong Kong. The media there were reporting the
Indonesian team as missing as they had not turned up for a training session at
the appointed time amid rumours they had no money and wanted to withdraw.
They eventually turned up. On the day of the match. After flying
from Surabaya to Hong Kong, no doubt on the cheapest airline possible.
They handed in their team sheet, which boasted a single
substitute, and were set to play.
Everything of course went swimmingly for the home team and
with the Indonesian players dropping like flies after their less than perfect preparation
and were 8-0 up after 65 minutes when
the ref cancelled the game as Persibo had less than the required number of
players to continue the game.
In a damning judgment of Indonesian football delivered after
the game Sunray coach Chiu Chung Man said "We
didn't expect this situation from Persibo; they don't have any sporting spirit.
We have heard many times about the lack of sportsmanship of Indonesian teams
but did not expect it to happen with us."
It would have been cheaper, and easier on their goal
difference and bank balance, had they stayed at home and taken an automatic 3-0
loss. As it is they now face the threat of disciplinary action from the Asian
Football Confederation.
Things are no better in the Indonesia Premier League where
the glory days of lifting the Cup last season are already tinged with sepia.
Their first game of the season against Persepar Palangkarya
was postponed. They did manage to overcome PSM Makassar 2-0 in their ‘next’
game at home but any hopes of building momentum were dashed four days later
when current IPL leaders Perseman Manokwari won 1-0.
The IPL then hibernated for three weeks before Persibo were
next scheduled to play neighbours Persebaya Surabaya but that game was
postponed with the Surabayan hosts having difficulties arranging security clearance
for their home games.
A game away to Bontang, never the easiest place to get to,
was next and this time Persibo never bothered travelling seeing the game
awarded to Bontang 3-0. Little surprise then they sit 13th in the 16
team league that is surrounded by confusion with some teams contemplating
withdrawing and doubts the season will be completed.
Under those circumstances the last thing Persibo need is the
distraction of intercontinental football. They have enough problems in their
own backyard without the added complication of trying to find places like
Maldives and Myanmar on a map and booking flights to those exotic destinations.
So why are Persibo still in the AFC Cup? Rumours in the Hong
Kong media suggest the Indonesia Football Association (known as PSSI) were keen
for them to continue and the club themselves would rather not bother. To paraphrase
the twisted Khmer Rouge who held sway in Cambodia during the 1970s there is no
benefit if Persibo stay in the AFC Cup and there is no loss if they withdraw.
The threat of sanction from FIFA may have receded following
the peace talks that recently united the rival Football Associations but the
same basic incompetence remains and there is no sign that will come to an end
anytime soon.
# posted by Me @ 4:58 PM 
