Wednesday, May 24, 2017
Foreign Coaches Interested In Persebaya Job
One of the reasons why Persebaya fans fell out with their last coach Iwan Setiawan, before the infamous Martapura incidents, is they felt he didn't understand and or respect the culture of the football club and its fans. They felt he was quick to boast but his boasts were rarely matched by actions on the field.
Bearing that in mind it is interesting that a number of foreign coaches say they are interested in the opportunity to coach the football club.
Among them is Laurent Hatton who coached PS TNI for their first three games of the season before being replaced by Ivan Kolev. It seems Hatton hasn't been scarred by his experience and is still in Indonesia hopeful of another job here. 'I hear Persebaya have just sacked there coach. Who knows, I could go there,' he has been quoted as saying.
One coach with slightly more experience in Indonesia than Hutton is Misha Radovic. The Serbian born coach has previously worked with Pelita Jaya and Persisam (remember them?) and played for Bonnyrigg White Eagles when I was following St George in the old National Soccer League in Australia. He says he is ready to handle the pressure from the Bonek who want to see Persebaya back in the top flight.
Swede Stefan Hansson is another coach who is undaunted by the task. The former Mitra Kukar and Persela coach recently stepped down at Persema in Liga 3 and having spent a number of years in the country is well aware of Persebaya and the magnitude of the club. 'Persebaya re a big club,' he says 'of course many coaches would be interested in working there.'
While those three coaches do have some kind of pedigree in Indonesia none come close to Carlos De Mello. The Brazilian, now with Liga 2 side PSGC, was part of the Persebaya side that won Liga Indonesia back in 1996/97 and retains fond memories from his time in Indonesia's second city.
One coach who has ruled himself out of the running for the job is Timo Scheunemann. He recently stepped down as coach of Persiba and following rumours linking him with the job in Surabaya he has said he will be focussing on his family and his outside work as well as helping to train new coaches entering the profession.
While the names above are by no means definitive and obviously exclude local coaches it would appear the front runner could be De Mello...were it not for the fact he is currently coaching a rival Liga 2 side with ambitions of their own.
UPDATE - respected Persebaya fan website Emosi Jiwaku suggest Angel Alfredo Vera, Jaya Hartono and Aji Santoso are among the candidates for the vacant seat. Vera led Persipura to the Indonesia Soccer Championship last season before being surprisingly replaced on the eve of the new campaign. Santoso of course is with Arema while Hartono is with Liga 2 side Sragen United.
UPDATE - respected Persebaya fan website Emosi Jiwaku suggest Angel Alfredo Vera, Jaya Hartono and Aji Santoso are among the candidates for the vacant seat. Vera led Persipura to the Indonesia Soccer Championship last season before being surprisingly replaced on the eve of the new campaign. Santoso of course is with Arema while Hartono is with Liga 2 side Sragen United.