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Monday, April 30, 2007

 

Samuel Tayo


This is one well travelled player.


From what I can make out, I have a blank covering his career from 2004 till now, he has played in 11 countries!!

91-93 NEPA, Nigeria
93-94 Tunisen Stadt, Tunisia
94-95 Strum Graz, Austria
95-97 Orient, England
96-97 Rushden & Diamonds, Altrincham
97 - Jaro, Finland
97-98 Dover
1998 Colorado Springs, USA
98-99 Bangor City, Stadt Tunisien
1999 Lira Lulea, Sweden
99-00 Beer Sheeva, Israel
00-01 Assyrinka, Sweden
01-02 Stalybridge Celtic
02-03 AIK, Sweden
2004 Shenyang, China
2007 Persija Jakarta

Youth:
Played for Honeybabes between 1986-89.
1995-96: Was on trials with Stockport County, but then moved on to sign for Leyton Orient.
1996-97: Went on loan to Altrincham.
1997-98: Joined Dover in England on a free transfer.
1998: Spent the 1998-season in Colorado Springs Stampede in the United States, serving both as a player and coach. Spent more time coaching than playing.
1998-99: Signed an unusual contract with Welsh club Bangor City in 1998, living in London and travelling to Wales for the games, and being paid £300 per match (unusual contract, but very good by Welsh standards). Left the club in March 1999, as the semi-professional club really couldn't afford to keep him.
2001-02: Joined Stalybridge Celtic in the English Nationwide Conference League, on a free transfer in November 2001. Scored a hat-trick against Nuneaton Borough in February.
2002: Was back in Sweden when he signed a 2,5-year contract with AIK in September. Got injured in his first game, and was never able to make much of an impact in his first season with the club. Scored his only goal of the season against Sundsvall in October, on a header from a corner.
2003: Sustained a knee injury during the pre-season, and missed the beginning of the Swedish 2003 season. Scored the important 3-3 goal in the classical Stockholm derby between AIK and Djurgården in June. He came off the bench when his side was 1-3 down with only ten minutes to go, and scored in the dying seconds of the game. After that most went wrong, and during the autumn he was told to find a new club, and he was not even able to make AIK's bench,
2004: A few Swedish clubs were interested in him ahead of the 2004 seasn, but he opted to sign a one-year deal with Chinese premier division side Shenyang Ginde. He called it the best contract he had ever had, with a free apartment, a car and a driver. Scored in his debut, and finished the season with 3 league goals.

International Stuff


1998: Showed up at the Super Eagles camp without invitation, ahead of the first African Nations Cup 2000 qualifier, against Burkina Faso in October 1998. Impressed the handlers during training, and was given the number 10 shirt for the game, pairing Patrick Pascal up front in a game which ended goalless. 2002: Was called up to the Super Eagles for the friendly against Kenya, in May. Was part of the Nigeria 55-player list ahead of the World Cup, but did not make the squad. 2003: Came on as a substitute in the friendly away to Japan, which Nigeria lost 3-0, in August.


Info from Nigerian Players

 

Budi Sudarsono

Kediri's tricky forward has had little chance to shine domestically this season but he sure impressed Sydney in the Asian Champions' League.

Now 27 this Kediri born lad started his career with Surabaya in 1999. He then spent one year each at Persija Jakarta and Sidoarjo before returning to Jakarta for 2003/2004. Seemingly not one to settle, he moved to his hometown club in 2005 and hasn't left since.

 

Division One

These are the Group leaders after 3 or 4 or 5 games.

Group 1 - Sigli
Group 2 - Batang
Group 3 - Bantul
Group 4 - Persisam

Highlight over the weekend was Palembang caning PSBL Langsa 7-2!

 

Indonesian Cup

So the League may be taking a break but if you think these players are getting a rest then think again.

The Indonesian Cup starts 13th May at Sidoarjo when Cup holders Arema Malang aiming for a hat trick of Cups play Champions Kediri.

The Pre Qualification Round starts 9th May when 40 clubs from the First Division and 16 2nd Division clubs fight it out to play with the big boys.

The 28 winners then go into the hat with the 36 League clubs and they play until 30th May.

The next round runs from 7th - 30th June.

Then there is a break till October time after the fasting season when the last 16 face off.

Quarter finals, semis and finals will be in December.

 

Jakarta v Tangerang in images

Kick off any minute and it seems thousands are still outside. It didn't stop them supporting their team though.


One nil Jakarta, Aliyudin bundles the ball over the line and it's party time
The Tangerang cheerleaders struggle to get the away following to sing up






Rocha nest the spot kick and three points are heading Jakarta's way

 

Weekend round up

Group 1

Sriwijaya v Semarang 0-0 20,000
North Jakarta v Lamongan 0-0 5,000
Malang v Medan 2-1 10,000
Banda Aceh v Deli Serdang 0-0 8,000
Tangerang City v Bogor District 3-0 2,000
Kediri v Bireun 1-0 15,000
Sriwijaya v Lamongan 5-1 25,000
North Jakarta v Semarang 1-0 7,000
Padang v Pelita Jaya 0-1 3,500
Jakarta v Tangerang 2-1 15,000

1. Bandung 17 11 3 3 29-13 36
2. Sriwijaya 17 10 4 3 24-11 34
3. Medan 17 9 4 4 17-9 31
4. Jakarta 17 9 3 5 26-19 30
5. Kediri 16 9 1 6 27-18 28

The first half of the season ends with a couple of clubs in unfamilair territory. North Jakarta must be getting nose bleeds from being in the top half while Semarang sit 12th, 9 points off a Big 4 spot. Funny old day Saturday. Not only did I buy a round at the pub but Tangerang City scored 3 goals. In the first half! They say miracles happen in 3s and you better believe it 'cos Roger Batoum also scored in their demolition of Bogor District.

Group 2

Surabaya v Balikpapan 0-3 5,000
Pasuruan District v Makassar 0-2 8,000
Bali v Bontang 1-1 7,500
Persibom v Manado 5-3 7,000
Ternate v Minhasa 0-0 10,000
Sidoarjo v Solo 1-0 25,000
Arema Malang v Manokwari 3-0 15,000
Bali v Balikpapan 1-2 6,000
Surabaya v Bontang 1-0 3,000
Yogyakarta v Jepara 1-0 12,000

Surabaya's crowd problems that so plagues them over the last couple of seasons seem to have become a thing of the past. And their solution seems so easy. Just kit out 11 dummies in the famous green and send them out each game. 3,000 at home to Bontang, admittedly no crowd magnet, for one of the Big clubs is a joke. Dunno, maybe their football is as well! Elsewhere Chris Wreh failed to get a yellow card and failed to score as Manokwari firmly entrenched themselves at the bottom of the group. Former Hammer Peter Butler must have enjoyed his road trip as his Balikpapan returned to Oil City with 2 victories and an improved goal difference. 3 goals in the last 20 minutes were enough to overcome Surabaya while on Bali they came from behind to beat Persigi Bali. 8 goals in the North Sulawesi Derby with ahat trick for the hitherto unknown Pedro Javier (Persibom)

1. Makassar 17 10 2 5 21-13 32
2. Ternate 17 8 5 4 18-11 29
3. Jayapura 17 8 4 5 30-16 28
4. Balikpapin 17 8 4 5 23-16 28

Top Scorers:

13 Goals - Solossa (Jayapura)
11 Goals - Gonzalez (Kediri), Hitta (Malang), Trinidad (Balikpapan)

 

Erm, excuse me Tangerang


But I think one of your lot lost one of these yesterday.
Pray tell what was achieved by taking your team off the pitch for those few minutes? Nothing! You earned the opprobrium of all decent football fans and you insulted pretty much everyone involved in the game. The fans, the clubs, the league, the game and even the country. This is what you do when a decision goes against you? You spit the dummy out the pram? Down that road leads chaos and the end of the game as the world knows it. I only hope there is some punishment for the club.
Rather than just blame the ref why not ask yourself why your team offered zilch p front first half? Why Ernest was so ineffective?
At the start of the season I tipped Tangerang as an outside tip for honours based on the recruitment of Benny Dollo and their success in a pre season tournament. But now I hope they get nothing.



 

Persija v Persita Tangerang

Ah lovely, a full bloodied local derby to whet the appetite for the final round of fixtures before the Asian Cup break. Persija Jakarta have stumbled lately with a poor run of results on the road while Persita Tangerang have done less. Being a derby I was interested in seeing how many Tangerang fans made the short journey. Like Jakarta’s they have been in the headlines for the wrong reasons and the recent home game against Deli Serdang was played behind closed doors. There are two supporters’ groups at the Benteng Stadium, Laksar Benteng Viola and Viola X-Trim. Apparently the current suspension is aimed primarily at the former. The Viola X-Trim did travel but only about 30 or so and they were joined in their enclosure by some of the friendlier Jakmania.

By kick off time there were still large crowds milling round outside trying to get in. the stand was packed, standing room only and the Jakmania would have been delighted by their teams’ start. Bambang went close on a couple of occasions as the Orange really took the game to their rivals, desperate for 3 points to stop them slipping further behind Persib Bandung. Ortiz spread the ball round with the consummate ease of the talented playmaker that rarely imposes himself in the manner he should but it was all too much for him. As the first half worse on he faded and was stretchered off on a few occasions.

Aliyudin fumbled home about half way through the first half and in truth Jakarta were comfortable. The giant Abanda had the giant Ernest in his pocket the whole game while Lilputians Roca and Aliyudin buzzed around looking for the opening that would kill the game off.

Second half saw Tangerang force their way back into the match and their equalizer was as spectacular as it was deserved. Game on but as Tangerang probed they lost their discipline. Something kicked off in front of the main stand which resulted in a barrage of plastic water bottles being thrown on the pitch from the irate home support. Moments later and the ref awarded a penalty. From my vantage point about 120 yards away up in the heavens it looked a pen but TV replays showed there was an element of theatrics from Aliyudin. Furious Tangerang players jostled and pushed the referee before one of their club officials restored order by taking the players off the pitch. This further infuriated the fans and more bottles were tossed pitch ward.

An FA official came down and spoke to the Tangerang people while Jakmania officals did their best to calm the support down. The police were of course noticeable by their absence. After an interval of a few minutes tempers among the Tangerang players and among the more hot headed Jakarta support cooled and the peeved players walked back on the pitch having achieved absolutely zilch beyond prolonging the taking of the penalty. Roca took it, Roca scored and Tangerang were left with what their petulance deserved. Nothing.

Saturday, April 28, 2007

 

This weekend's fixtures

It's the final round of fixtures before the Asian Cup, the players not involved get a break till August!

The highlight is probably tomorrow when Jakarta play Tangerang at Lebuk Bulus in the battle of the giants. 8 foot 7 Ernest comes up against the TRex sized Abanda in a clash that won't be for the faint hearted. For Persita Ilham will be trying to prove to their national selectors they were wrong to overlook him. Persija for their part have struggled recently and will be looking for 3 points to keep in touch with the leaders.

Third place Sriwijaya will be hoping for 3 points at home to Lamongan, especially after dropping 2 midweek at home to PSIS Semarang.

Kediri have been finding form recently and should find Bireuen at home less an obstacle than Sydney away. Victory could see them replace Jakarta in the Top 4!

In Group 2 Ternate could go top if they beat Minhasa at home. Arema host everybody's favourite punch bag Manokwari...why do I get the feeling that has draw written all over it?

Now what the hell am I gonna do next week???

Friday, April 27, 2007

 

More friendlies announced

Jordan have cancelled their friendly in Jakarta next month. Fixtures at Bung Karno, Jakarta unless stated.

The revised schedule is:

June 1st = Indonesia vs. Hong Kong
June 3rd = Indonesia vs. Singapore
June 6th = Indonesia vs. Uruguay
June 30th = Indonesia vs. UEA (Sleman)

 

Indonesian Asian Cup Training Squad

Goal keeper: Yandri Christian Pitoy (Persipura Jayapura), Markus Horison (PSMS Medan), Achmad Kurniawan (Arema Malang), Ferry Rotinsulu (Sriwijaya FC), Galih Sudaryono (Persiba Bantul);

Defenders : Firmansyah (Sriwijaya FC), Hamka Hamzah (Persija Jakarta), , Leonard Tupamahu (Persija Jakarta), Ricardo Salampessy (Persipura Jayapura), Aris Budi Prasetyo (Persik Kediri), Harry Saputra (Persis Solo), Sulaiman Alamsyah (Sriwijaya FC); Charis Yulianto (Sriwijaya FC)

Wing Back : Ismed Sofyan (Persija Jakarta), Mahyadi Panggabean (PSMS Medan), Irsyad Aras (PSM Makassar), Muhammad Ridwan (PSIS Semarang) , Erol FX Iba (Persik Kediri), Supardi (PSMS Medan); Salim Alaidrus (Persib Bandung),

Midfielder: Elie Aiboy (Arema Malang), Firman Utina (Persita Tangerang), Ponaryo Astaman (Arema Malang), Syamsul Bachri Chaerudin (PSM Makassar), Eka Ramdhani (Persib Bandung), Legimin Rahardjo (PSMS Medan), Atep (Persija Jakarta);

Forwards: Bambang Pamungkas (Persija Jakarta), Boas Theofilus Erwin Salossa (Persipura Jayapura), Budi Sudarsono (Persik Kediri), Saktiawan Sinaga (PSMS Medan), Zaenal Arif (Persib Bandung), Ahmad Amirudin (PSM Makassar), Rachmat Rivai (Persiter Ternate), Octavianus (Sriwijaya FC).

Thursday, April 26, 2007

 

This week

Group 1

Bandung v Jakarta 3-0 23,000
Sleman v Padang 1-0 20,000
Tangerang v Deli Serdang 0-0
Pelita Jaya v Banda Aceh 3-1 8,000

As I type this Sriwijaya entertain Semarang so I'll do an updated table when that's done. Sleman have been on a roll recently and after beating big boys PSIS SEmarang and Jakarta relatively comfortably they struggled to beat struggling Padang. Caston scored on 84'.


Group 2

Jepara v Manado 1-1 10,000
Solo v Persibom 3-0 15,000
Jayapura v Yogyakarta 1-1 20,000
Wamena v Sidoarjo 1-0 6,000


 

Boaz Solossa

Solossa has run in to a rich vein of form recently which has seen him shoot to the list of Top Scorers ahead of the usual foreigners who habitually hog the chart. Timely stuff as well with this weekend being the last round of fixtures so Indonesia can prepare for the Asian Cup. And boy, do they need a goalscorer.

Just turned 21, Boaz first hit the headlines when his club Persipura Jayapura won the League back in 2005. He has struggled in the Pre Olympic Qualifiers this year but the Indonesian football public will hope he fires in July.

His career started in hometown Sorong with local club PS Putra Yaon. In 2000 he moved to the bright lights of Jayapura, signing for Perseru. Three years later he was off to PON Papua where ever they may be based. 2005 he joined the Black Pearls and the rest they say, for that year at least, is history

 

Sydney v Persik Kediri

3 second half goals saw for Kediri at Parramatta Stadium on ANZAC day in front of just over 10,000.

Sydney go second, one point behind Urawa Diamonds.

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

 

Two early bookings

For Sydney in the first 25 minutes.

Unsporting behaviour!!!

In honour of ANZACs I will make no comment...

oh and it's apparently raining

 

Arema Malang win

1-0 but finished the game with 9 men. The ref got so pissed off with their antics in injury time, rolling round and time wasting, he sent off #19. He was originally booked as he walked off the pitch slowly but then must have said something to get the red

I've said ot before and I'll say it again. These pathetic tactics employed routinely here are not welcome and need to be wiped out. OK Arema won their first points but football is a sport and their needs to be an elemet of sporting behaviour and not this petty spitefulness which can enrage an often volatile atmosphere

 
Red Card
Casimir gives Arema the lead but Suroso sees red for a challenge.Small but noisy crowd

 

Half time

Arema Malang v Bangkok University 0-0
Tangerang v Deli Serdang 0-0

Fun filled TV i tell ya.

I'm off to feed the rabbit

 

Asian Champions League

Both Arema Malang and Persik Kediri go into today's games after victories domestically. Arema play Bangkok University and it's fair to say the Students won't have experienced many atmospheres like the one Aremania can generate.

Kediri go to Sydney knowing they are a good footballing team. However they don't travel so well, just a couple of away wins all season.

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

 

Bandung v Jakarta 3-0

Pretty one sided stuff by all accounts.

 

Persib Bandung v Persija Jakarta

Bandung 2-0 up after 15 minutes I am reliably informed...

 

I was there when it was shit

My first footballing memory was as a young lad living in Belgium. My Dad got me some Arsenal home programmes and I treasured them for ever and a day. I read them from cover to cover many times, all the while treating them like the sacred text they truly were. The first game I can recall being involved in if you like was the Leeds Cup Final in ’72. My Dad was listening to it while I played cowboys and Indians on that warm day. We lost but I was the cowboy and I killed my brother so there. A year later and I was playing with my cars on the floor of the house as I listened to the radio. We lost to Sunderland but little did I know that a year later I would be on the North Bank.

I returned to England in the middle of the energy crisis. It was the day we played Wolves at Highbury and the score was 2-2. The game is probably most remembered for the attendance though. Despite being played midweek it had an afternoon kick off because there was not a lot of energy around. 3 weeks later I went to my first ever football match, Brighton against Plymouth and all I can remember was it took me years, many many years, to get the programme.

April 6th I went to Highbury for the first time. It was West Ham at home and we drew 0-0. About this time we also played Stoke, I forget the result but I was so disappointed I told my mum, as she took me to the shops, that Arsenal only had 200 supporters in the world! It was a depressing season to be an Arsenal fan as the double side broke up almost over night though I remember Alan Ball writing in Shoot about a talent called Liam Brady and, later, Graham Rix.

Without cable TV or the internet my football was limited to The Big Match. Match of the Day was past my bed time! Brian Moore would come on after Sunday lunch and we’d get highlights of big games in London, even Arsenal occasionally. Nearly every week Brian would provide the background as what seemed like hundreds of lads with really bad dress sense battered the living daylights out of each other on the terraces. Panorama with Michael Barrett kept me fully informed of the Red Army’s adventures as Manchester United that season ran riot in the Second Division. Violence was so common place people would weakly joke they went to a punch up and a football match broke out.

The 70’s wore on and luckily as punk came off the streets and into the mainstream terrace fashion improved just as I was getting aware of this sort of stuff. No pictures exist of me in wing collars and flares with bushy sideburns and praise be to the Pistols for that. I started going to more games and seeing more trouble. I got slapped at Reading coming home from Coventry but I didn’t tell me mum and I kept the programme in mint condition. I used Persil vouchers to go to away games. I watched Liverpool dominate on our trusty old black n white TV and marveled at the quagmires at Derby and Anfield. Football was a mess with no investment, poor facilities and falling attendances.

To say you were a football fan in the early 80’s in England was to invite scorn from your peers. The night Luton trashed Millwall I went to Villa away. At Scratchwood Services we’d seen plenty of grizzlies who we assumed were Arsenal ‘cos they weren’t interested in us. I started going to more and more away games, first with the Travel Club then by car. People at work thought I was weird, going to football, so went the perception, was asking for trouble. Trouble was there if you wanted it, it could be avoided. The worst problems we faced was in Northern outposts like Birmingham and Merseyside where cheeky scallies and future TV presenters would offer to look after our car for a few pence but hey this was Thatcher’s Britain, we felt we were doing something for our impoverished brethren oop north.

I recall games at Luton and Oxford. We were shoehorned into the tiniest most expensive terracing in the country, so tightly packed people’s feet didn’t touch the ground for the whole game. With fences to the front and fences to the side there was little hope of escape should anything happen. One game at Luton we were on the open terrace behind the goal. This was divided into three pens, did I say football fans were the lowest of the low. We had the left hand pen. The middle one was for a couple of ball boys and the right hand one had a few Luton in there. We couldn’t move. When fans tried to climb the fence to tell stewards or police of the conditions they were pushed off and threatened with arrest. If we were cattle on the way to slaughter the RSPCA would have done something but we weren’t. We were football fans and Thatcher hated us. . Overcrowding on the terraces and fences were a recipe for disaster, every terrace lad knew it but who could we talk to? No one listened till April ’89 by which time of course it was too late.

Now of course we like to promote our league as the best in the world. Inspired by the likes of Bergkamp, Cantona and Zola the English game has become trendy at home and abroad. Money has flowed into the game and average foreigners have replaced home grown talent on the team sheets. Aston Villa won the League in 81 and they used 14 players all season on worse pitches and with heavier balls than today. When Saturday Comes is as radical as an English International advertising crisps on TV and one time football hooligans have become 21st Century celebs as they churn out ‘never run, never dun’ books by the dozen. Young wannabees post fawning messages on their web sites as they look for role models and heroes. The likes of Ashley Cole with their Hello lifestyles and celebrity wives are too distant, too remote.

In July ’87 I got out. I moved to Australia and poked around for some football but there the game was as despised by the mainstream as it was in England. Football was definitely a minority sport, overshadowed by Rugby League and Union, Aussie Rules, Cricket, Tag Marbles and any over sport where Australians were successful. I went to see Australia play an International against Gothenburg at Parramatta. Spot the Aussie in the crowd. Same against Hadjuk Split, me and my mates were the only noise when Australia scored after 2 minutes.

Domestically the game sucked. The first Grand Final I went to had less than 8,000. In my 4 or 5 years there I recall only one game I was at where the crowd was more than 10,000. That was a tasty local affair between Preston and Heidleberg. But this was Melbourne, this was not a rivalry of the suburbs. This was Northern Greeks against Makedonians.

Petty imported ethnic rivalries blighted the game as Croats, Serbs, Makedonians and Maltese turned the league into their own little battlefields. Tell an Australian you went to football and they’d look at you like you’d grown a second head. Crap pitches as well. Wentworth Park, a greyhound track, was used by APIA at times. The pitch at St George was so waterlogged one game the frogmen were called out to find a missing ball boy. And among the showers the fights carried on.

Pele came one year. I’d last seen him at Highbury the year Villa won the league and we had 57,000 inside the stadium. This time it was St George at home to Marconi and the crowd as less than 4,000. As he did his unasked for lap of honour the massed ranks of the St George support started roaring ‘We all agree, (Zoran) Illic is better than Pele!’ I guess you had to be there!

I left in ’91. I’d had enough. St George played their last game of the season at Edensor Park and beat Sydney Croatia 3-0. We invaded the pitch after the game. I got top scorer’s Andy Harper’s shirt. Adem Poric wouldn’t talk to us and John Filan was destined for bigger things. So was Australian football of course. Fifteen years later they would finally qualify for the World Cup again and finally have in place a League that had done away with the ethnic backed clubs and started creating their own broad fan base.

And so to Indonesia. The parallels are blinding. Crap pitches, poor officials, bad stadiums. Toilet rolls on the pitch. Badly dressed kids getting involved in anti social behaviour. But great atmosphere at the stadiums. These guys are passionate about their team, kampung kids mostly; football gives them a release and a chance to be someone. And I’m back in the familiar situation of explaining yes, I am quite normal thank you very much. I just like going to football matches!

A few weeks back the UEFA Champions League Trophy passed through Jakarta. Sponsored by a beer company it set up shop in an up scale mall in South Jakarta close to the moneyed. Just a couple of miles down the road is Lebuk Bulus Stadium, home of local football team Persija Jakarta. No one thought to take the trophy there. The demographic in the stadium wouldn’t suit the sponsor. And, as far as I’m aware, no one has thought about sending the Asian Champions League on a similar tour. A perfect opportunity, you might think, to let a new breed know who was competing in this tournament. You might think. Given the lack of awareness of this tournament locally, given the profile of some of the sponsors you might think someone would say, ‘hey, why don’t we take the trophy round Asia?’ You might think it, no one else seems to.

I am asking people whether they are going to see the Asian Cup, some of the games are being hosted in Jakarta, but I’m being greeted by deafening apathy. No one fancies it. They’re scared of trouble. The football is crap. It’s on TV. School kids are prevented from going by parents concerned about their safety amongst all those ‘people’. If anything was crying out for a school trip surely it is Indonesia playing South Korea at Bung Karno in Jakarta. A bit of face paint, merah putihs adorning bus windows but I can’t see it happening. Not among the mall classes at least. And that’s a shame. Here is the perfect opportunity to introduce football to a new type of spectator, something that could act as a catalyst in the manner of Euro ’96 (yeah, I know, maybe not the best example!) and change perceptions but precious little is being done.

England took its product upmarket and now calls fans customers. Australia knocked the ethnic stuff on the head and widened the games appeal. Which road will Indonesia take? Go up market and chase the big bucks or try and find a balance between the kids who provide the colour and the kids who provide the money?


 

Midweek highlights

Later on today Bandung host Jakarta which is on the channel I don't get, bah humbug. Tomorrow sees ACL action with Arema playing Bangkok University and Persik Kediri travelling to Sydney. Both Indonesian teams won at the weekend and Kediri especially are running into some consistency but you have to say this is Arema's best chance of 3 points so far. On Thursday Sriwijaya play Semerang in Palembang while Makassar wisit Pasuruan District

 

Useful facts ... or not

In Group 2 which covers Central Java and all points east there have been just 9 away wins all season and two of them have come from leaders PSM Makassar!
The top scorers on the road have been Jayapura and Minhasa who have both hit the back of the net seven times in eight outings!
Like the Norwegians in the Eurovision Song Contest Surabaya, Maonkwari and Yogyakarta have nul points from their travels!
Bali have 2 points but no goals!
Manokwari have conceded two goals at home so far this season and 22 away!

Next season the format changes to a single division so we are faced with teams like Jayapura, Ternate and Makassar making trips to Sumatra. It will be interesting to see how they fare on such time consuming journeys

Monday, April 23, 2007

 

Weekend results

Group 1

Kediri v Medan 2-1
Bandung v Padang 3-0
Sleman v Jakarta 2-1
Tangerang v Banda Aceh 3-1
Pelita Jaya v Deli Serdang 1-0
Malang v Bireuen 2-1

Kediri continued their recent improvement with a useful win over Medan. Danilo Fernando netted the winner with 6 minutes left. Now Kediri travel to Sydney for their Asian Champions League game on Wednesday. Bandung stay top after 2 goals from Zainal Arif and one from Christian Bekamanga gave them a comfy victory over Padang. Jakarta, cheered on by 2,000 fans, not 10,000 (!) lost ground when 2 goals in five minutes gave Sleman a dream start Hamzah scored on 82' but it was too little, too late. Ernest scored a hat trick for Tangerang at Benteng Stadium, he now has 8 for the season. Malang came from behind to beat Bireuen at home, Hita scoring his 11th of the season.

1. Bandung 16 10 3 3 26-13 33
2. Medan 16 9 4 3 16-7 31
3. Sriwijaya 15 9 3 3 19-10 30
4. Jakarta 15 8 3 4 24-15 27

Group 2

Arema v Makassar 2-0
Jepara v Persibom 4-1
Solo v Manado 1-1
Jayapura v Sidoarjo 3-0
Wamena v Yogyakarta 3-0

Plenty of goals in Group 2 with Boaz Solassa leading the way. He scored twice to help the Black Pearls overcome the visiting Deltras. Jepara may be 9th but they have 2 games in hand on most other teams and are unbeatable at home. Makassar stay top despite losing the big game at Arema.

1. Makassar 16 9 2 5 19-13 29
2. Ternate 16 8 4 4 18-11 28
3. Jayapura 16 8 3 5 29-15 27
4. Minhasa 16 7 4 5 17-16 25

 

Arema Malang v PSM Makassar

Things Brian Glanville would never write, part III


Saturday, April 21, 2007

 

This weekend

A couple of highlights this weekend. Today sees Medan travle to Kediri in East Java for a must wion game for both teams. Medan to keep in and around the top 4 and Kediri as a confidence booster before next weeks ACL game in Sydney. The game is being shown live on the channel I don't have!

Jakarta won't be short of support for their game against Sleman. Yusuf, the man behind the movie The Jak, tells me 2 special trains are heading south for this game, about 10,000 Jakmania will be invading this town just outside of Yogyakarta. I'd love to have gone down myself but a busy weekend with domestic stuff. Gutted!

Tomorrow the highlight of course sees leaders Makassar go to Malang. That game is on TV so regular updates here.

Friday, April 20, 2007

 

Asian Cup 2007 Tickets

Go on sale on line 24h April. The prices for the games in Indonesia as follows:

Details here


 

Midweek stuff

Group 1

Medan v Pelita Jaya 1-1 7,000
Bireuen v Tangerang 1-1 5,000
Banda Aceh v North Jakarta 0-2 8,000
Deli Serdang v Sriwijaya 2-0 5,000
Semarang v Sleman 1-3 21,000
Lamongan v Bandung 2-1 15,000
Tangerang City v Malang 1-0 2,000

As I intimated the other day some odd results this week. Medan came from behind at home to Medan with Frank Seator being the unlikely saviour with his first of the season. Sriwijaya will be cursing those two goals in two minutes in the second half that saw them fall at Deli Serdang while Tangerang City fans must think it's party time at Benteng Stadium. Two goals in two games and 3 points. Semarang lost 3-1 at home to Sleman, the visitors first away of the season and so disgusted was he he has buggered off to Hong Kong to recover.

1. Medan 15 9 4 2 15-5 31
2. Bandung 15 9 3 3 23-13 30
3. Sriwijaya 15 9 3 3 19-10 30
4. Jakarta 14 8 3 3 23-13 27

Group 2

Makassar v Solo 2-1 20,000
Manokwari v Jepara 1-0 10,000
Ternate v Pasuruan District 3-0 11,000
Minhasa v Arema Malang 2-1 12,000
Persibom v Surabaya 2-1 6,000
Manado v Bali 0-0 8,000
Bontang v Wamena 3-1 7,000
Balikpapan v Jayapura 2-2 8,000

If it's goals you're after then check out where Pasuruan District are playing (home to Manokwari Sunday!). Their 15 games have produced 43 goals, far and away the best return in the league. They do have just 14 points too show for their efforts and lie 17th. Manokwari on the other hand lie one place below them and have conceded 22 goals in their 7 away games thus far, scoring just one in the process. It's gotta be 0-0 Sunday! Adrian Trinidad keeps knocking them in for Balikpapan, his second half equaliser at home to Jayapura was his 10th of the season and his team lie 7th, just a couple of points off a Big 4 spot. Ternate still cling on to Makassar, just a point behind them after their goal glut against Pasuruan. Sunday though sees leaders Makassar take on struggling Arema in Malang as two of the biggest clubs in the game collide in East Java. Live on TV as well!

1. Makassar 15 9 2 4 19-11 29
2. Ternate 16 8 4 4 18-11 28
3. Minhasa 16 7 4 5 17-16 25
4. Jayapura 15 7 3 5 26-15

Top Scorers

11 - Gonzalez (Kediri)
10 - Hita (Malang), Trinidad (Balikpapan)

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

 

What an odd bunch of results

Tangerang City won!
Semarang lost at home to Sleman!
Sriwijaya lost!
Medan drew at home!
Frank Seator scored a goal!
Manokwari won again!

Who needs fantasy football when every day in the Indonesian League is fantasy stuff!

All the details tomorrow!

 

Persela Lamongan v Persib Bandung 2-1

Persib Bandung’s petulance and lack of discipline ultimately cost them 3 points in a game they never looked like winning. Consigned to play the final quarter with 10 men after a petulant sending off Bandung were guilty of giving away far too many free kicks on the edge of their box, especially when Lamongan boasted dead ball specialists of the quality of Marcio. Sure enough injury time saw a free kick too many and Marcio’s effort beat a keeper distracted by onrushing forwards, defenders noticeable by their absence.

You don't need to have played the game at a high level to know that such defensive naiviety could eventually cost you dear.

Lamongan dominated second half and were worthy winners but Bandung need to have a word with themselves if they want to be considered serious title challengers. There were too many niggly touches in and around the third and too little potency at the other end of the field. Bandung are a big club and they have mammoth support. But on the pitch they could learn a thing or two from the likes of Persik Kediri


Monday, April 16, 2007

 

Alexander Pulalo

This 32 year old Arema star has been in the news recently. On recent away games he was on the receiving end of vicious racist abuse from sections of the home support and rather than sit back and take this shit he has gone public. Several supporters' group have taken up the anti racism banner and let's hope these arseholes realise what twats they sound and bugger off elsewhere. Not just football, society needs these morons like it needs a hole in the head.

So fair play to the Papuan born Alex and let's find out more about his career.

92-96 Semen Padang
97-99 Pelita Jaya
00-01 Makassar
2002 Semarang
2003 Jakarta
2004 Bandung
05- Arema Malang

This is a guy who has given a lot to Indonesian football, a damned sight more than the tossers on the terraces, don't give Alex!

Labels:


 

Weekend wrap

Group 1

Medan v Tangerang 2-0 5,000
Bireuen v Pelita Jaya 1-3 5,000
Bogor District v Malang 2-1 6,000
Tangerang City v Persik 1-2 2,000
Banda Aceh v Sriwijaya 1-2 11,000
Deli Serdang v North Jakarta 1-2 3,000
Semarang v Bandung 0-0 10,000 (bullshit!)
Lamongan v Sleman 1-0 11,000

1. Bandung 14 9 3 2 22-11 30
2. Sriwijaya 14 9 3 2 19-8 30
3. Medan 14 9 3 2 14-4 30
4. Jakarta 14 8 3 3 23-13 27

Tangerang City opened the gates to paying supporters for the first time in a few weeks for the attractive looking fixture at home to ACL heroes Kediri and did the fans come a flocking? Did they bollocks. And what a treat they missed as City scored their second home goal of the season but it wasn't enough as Kediri scored twice in the final 9 minutes to secure the points. Franco Hita scored his 10th of the season but Malang came away from Bogor District wet and pointless. Medan's home record of played 8, won 7 and drawn 1 giving them a goal difference of 10-0 isn't working at the turnstiles if the figure of 5,000 is to be believed.

Group 2

Makassar v Jepara 2-0 20,000
Manokwari v Solo 2-0 12,000
Ternate v Arema Malang 1-0 11,000
Minhasa v Pasuruan District 1-0 10,000
Persibom v Bali 1-0 6,000
Manado v Surabaya 1-0 8,000
Bontang v Jayapura 1-1 7,000
Balikpapan v Wamena 1-0 8,000

1. Makassar 14 8 2 4 17-10 26
2. Ternate 15 7 4 4 15-11 25
3. Jayapura 14 7 2 5 24-13 23
4. Sidoarjo 14 6 4 4 22-12 22
5. Minhasa 15 6 4 5 15-15 22

Arema Malang lost to high flying Ternate yet still climbed up to 10th on the table. Funny old game eh? Christopher Wreh inspired Manokwari to a 2-0 victory over Solo by scoring one and getting a yellow card. Trindad, the Argentinian forward at Balikpapan scored his 9th of the season to keep his team just off the Big 4. Away points are crucial in Indonesia as teams seem to travel so poorly and perhaps the vast distances explain why Group 2 scores so poorly. With teams having played at least half a dozen games on the road only Makassar, Ternate and Minhasa have got 6 points! Jayapura will then take great satifaction from their point at Bontang, Solossa equalising just before half time.

Sunday, April 15, 2007

 

PSIS Semarang v Persib Bandung 0-0

That was great fun!

Ok, maybe not one for the purists, whatever they maybe, but this romp in the puddles of Jatidiri had everything except a goal. 100 % effort, tackles sliding all over the place, moments of sublime skill from Julio Lopez, stubborn defencing from Patricio Jiminez and bookings galore.

Bandung will be happy with the draw despite both Sriwijaya and Medan winning this weekend because Semarang is no easy place to come and get a result. The blues from Central Java are finding their form now and their demolition of Jakarta recently shows that they will have a say on who does what this season.

If there is one gripe it is about players antics when they get the slightest knock or not. They roll round like John Wayne getting shot and their actions cause the ref to stop play while the stretcher crews race waddle on to treat the untreatable. Surely the ref can't fall this nonsense every time. This is gamesmanship at it's very worst and instead of stopping the game the ref should play on then book the guilty party once he has stopped squirming like a tadpole in a petri dish.

 

Manokwari won!

Ok they were at home but a 2-0 win over Solo is not to be sneezed at.

Makassar also won and Medan returned to the top of Group 1 with a 2-0 victory over Tangerang.

Later today sees Bandung at Semarang

Friday, April 13, 2007

 

FA Cup Semi Finals

Media and pundits alike are creaming themselves at the thought of Chelsea and Manchester United facing off in the FA Cup Final.

I'm not. I would much rather see Blackburn and Watford in the final. Blackburn would be great because they wouldn't be able to sell all their tickets - bit like Chelsea really.

I dunno about other football fans but the idea of this 'dream final' bores the pants off me and I sure as hell won't be watching it. I won't be watching the semis either but I hope that one or both f the underdogs do the business.

Anyway, Bandung go to Semerang Sunday and that promises to be a cracker!


PS - these notes are not, repeat not, the sour grapes of a sad old Gooner who can't get over the fact we were knocked out of the Cup by a piss poor Rovers team who played for a draw at home!

 

More from the Sydney coach

I'm wondering whether Sydney underestimated Persik Kediri. Their coach before the game bragged about his team's superior football ability and bemoaned the lack of game time. After the game he was quoted in the Jakarta Post as saying

"My team has been under pressure from playing in various tournaments in the past two months. Besides we were also affected by the heat and the food here," he said.

Before the game he had this to say

"The fact the boys don't really have any match fitness because - other than a friendly with (NSW Premier League side) Marconi last week - they haven't really played a top level game for three weeks, that's a real concern."Add to that the playing surface is, at best, average, and the fact the crowds can be very hostile - there are quite a few things going against us."

So before the game they've not played enough. After the game they've played too much???!!! And then the food was a problem!!??

This is the Asian Champions League friend. The beauty of it is Shanghai and Solo. The venues are as varied as the region. The games are televised, surely getting hold of a video of a Persik game was not rocket science.

So in a nutshell - the players weren't fit, the pitch average, the crowds hostile, Sydney have played too much, it was too hot and the food was a problem...

And they call us whingers!

Thursday, April 12, 2007

 

Midweek results

Group 1

Padang v Banda Aceh 2-0 5,000
Bandung v Bireuen 3-1
Sleman v Medan 1-0 20,000
Sriwijaya v Bogor District 3-0 20,000
North Jakarta v Tangerang City 1-0 5,000
Jakarta v Banda Aceh 3-0 6,000
Padang v Deli Serdang 2-0 2,500

Wow, Padang win 2 games shock and move up to 10th! Good crowd at Sleman to see Medan go down while Bandung went top alone 'cos no fans were allowed in at Siliwangi.

Group 2

Jayapura v Manokwari 5-0 10,000
Wamena v Makassar 3-2 7,000
Bali v Minhasa 1-1 6,000
Surabaya v Ternate 1-0 10,000
Sidoarjo v Manado 4-0 15,000
Yogyakarta v Persibom 2-1 7,000

Boaz hit a hat trick and doubled his tally for the season as Jayapura thumped whipping boys Manokwari. Surabaya welcomed old coach Tiago back and said sorry, you can't go top at our expense. Makassar finished their Papuan road trip with nothing but stay top because no one else fancies it. 2 points seperate the top 5 and this weekend sees some interesting fixtures. Makassar back home host Jepara who have games in hand on the pacesetters. Ternate go to Arema where a home win could see them climb back to the top half of the table.

I smell beer...

 

Asian Champions League

Persik Kediri v Sydney 2-1
Bangkok University v Arema Malang 0-0

Kediri move second on 6 points after getting a useful win over 10 man Sydney in the rearranged game in Solo

 

Persik Kediri v Sydney

Has been arranged for 10.30 this morning and the Sydney coach has been getting his excuses in early

"The right decision was definitely made," he said. "It was more suitable for swimming and water polo than it was for football. We're pleased, because our superior football ability would have counted for nothing."

Remember, this is a guy who hasn't seen Kediri play and thinks they have Portuguese players so where does all this superior football ability come from eh?

It's also worth nearing in mind I have seen quite a bit of Australian football from my time there and I recall a game at St George Stadium where the mighty Saints hosted APIA Leichhardt. That game was played in a torrential downpour, the pitch was unplayable. I forget the year but little Joe Watson scored from about 35 yards for APIA in a 2-0 win

Then there's this:

"The fact the boys don't really have any match fitness because - other than a friendly with (NSW Premier League side) Marconi last week - they haven't really played a top level game for three weeks, that's a real concern.
"Add to that the playing surface is, at best, average, and the fact the crowds can be very hostile - there are quite a few things going against us." Oh dear, poor you...the crowd won't be that big today I imagine.


Anyway Kediri could argue they've played too many games recently, here teams usually play weekends/midweek.

And like I've said on here before Kediri's goal against Shanghai came the one time they got their slick passing together on a sodden pitch. It's the same for both sides...

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

 

Persija Jakarta v Persiraja Banda Aceh

After a couple of disappointing results Jakarta returned to winning ways with what ended up as a comfortable 3-0 win though it was not without a few scares along the way.

A missed penalty, goals by Abanda, Roca and Bambang and plenty of chances, coach Dubovrin will be happy with the performance today and especially the goals. They now join Sriwijaya and Medan on 27 points, 2 points behind leaders Bandung.

Next up are a couple of away games with trips to Sleman and Bandung before a home Derby against Tangerang takes Persija into the mid season break. Sleman beat Medan yesterday and Bandung are an intimidating proposition at home.

 

Aliyudin goes close



 
76 minutes and Bambang scores what pundits would call a true centre forward's goal. A delightful cross from Ismed Sofyan and BP, not the tallest player in the world timed his leap to perfection and headed perfectly across the face of goal, leaving the keeper rooted to the spot. He's on a roll is Bambang, that's 5 straight I think...

 
Roca hits the crossbar with a delightful free kick. He's playing much better today but Jakarta need the safety net of a 3rd goal. Halfway through the secon half and still 2-0

 

Back to Persija

Second half 5 minutes old and still 2-0

 

Persik Kediri v Sydney

Will probably be played tomorrow some time...awaiting confirmation of the time

 
A couple of fortuitous offside decisions have gone Jakarta's way in the last couple of minutes.

Banda Aceh are knocking the ball round well and Jakarta need to be alert at the back.

 
Jakarta's defending needs looking at. From a corner Aceh had 2 free headers before a shot, from an unmarked forward, was smartly saved by the keeper.

 
This is great fun! Bambang should have scored but his sidefoot came off the keeper.

10 minutes to half time

 
Javier Roca makes it 2-0, delightful chip from 20 yards

I'm not a happy bunny...

Straight down the other end and Hamka Hamzah clears off the line.

 
Halfway through the first half and a score of 3-1 would not seem odd.

As it is, 1-0 Jakarta

 
Persija Jakarta have Bambang, Aliyudin and Tayu up front with Roca more withdrawn. Of course Abanda is still a threat

 
Ismet is playing well. Not sure about the foul but the ref gives a penalty.

Bambang off a short run up hits the post and Banda Aceh break

 
Sweet half volley just wide. Banda Aceh are making a go of it

 
2 minutes on the clock, Ismet with the corner and Abanda all by himself gets a free header, his third of the season. Credit to Tayu who heard the shout and let the cross go

1-0 the Jak!

 

Nice blue sky

At Lebuk Bulus as Persija Jakarta kick off at home to Persiraja Banda Aceh but no banners round the stadium after the FA got upset last time!

 
Semarang Dave reports the Kediri players are playing cards while Sydney are wondering where to buy some beer...

 
Kick off at Solo for the ACL has been put back till 3.30

 
Looks like the TV have given up and switched to a soap!

Pisser - I don't have enough time to get to Lebuk Bulus...

 
Semarang Dave who is at the Solo stadium thinks it's unlikely the game will happen today. The pitch is a pool! The TV is showing the players loking forlornly out at the swamp.

 

And of course

today sees Jakarta play Banda Aceh so keep checking back here for updates from the 2 big games...

They're trying to drain the pitch in Solo, good luck!

 

Nice weather

If you're into sloshing around in the mud. Heavy rain in Solo at tne moment and empty terraces.

 

From the Sydney camp

I found some interesting quotes in the Australian media ahead of the Asian Champions League fixture in Solo today. Former Indonesian coach Peter Withe now lives in Perth. He advises Sydney to put on a 100 % professional performance and don’t get sucked into play acting or disputing referee’s decisions as this would antagonize the home support. Fair point, while Indonesian fans are an excitable bunch they are also indisciplined and liable to throw missiles or climb fences at the slightest infraction. The atmosphere can be both awesome and intimidating but it will certainly be an experience for the visiting Sydney players. Of course the other side of the coin is with the game being played in Solo, and if the last game is anything to go by, not so many Persikmania will travel.

Sydney’s coach, Bruno Culina, hasn’t seen Kediri play. Shame, I have a few times recently! He has however spoken to some people about them and they have told him they have some Portuguese players which comes as news to me and I suspect coach Daniel Roekito. Of course had Bruno been reading the live score updates of Kediri’s last home game on here he would be more aware of the dangers that the hosts could offer. And their nationality!

And one danger is Christian Gonzalez. The coach of Manly United, who played Kediri in last December’s Bang Yos Gold Cup, was very impressed by the stocky marksman as he inspired Persik to a 4-1 victory over the hapless Aussies. Peter Withe memorably describes Gonzalez as an unfit Mark Viduka but without the work rate. Fagundes and Danilo are other dangermen as is Budi if he plays.

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

 

I'm hearing

Bandung beat Bireuen 3-1 and Medan lost 1-0 at Sleman which means, if true ...


Persib Bandung top of the league!!!

 

First Division

Kicked off on Sunday. With 39 (38 actually 'cos one team didn't register in time) teams spread across 4 regional divisions I can't be arsed to do all the results. I'll stick to Group 2 which is my area if you like.

Bandung District v Pro Duta Bandung 2-1 3,000
Bogor v Serang 3-0 4,000
Depok District v Bekasi 3-2 6,000
Purwodadi v Batul 1-2 5,000

Kudus and some other team didn't play

 

Group 2 weekend

Balikpapan v Sidoarjo 1-0 8,000
Arema v Solo 3-0 15,000
Pasuruan District v Jepara 1-1 5,000
Jayapura v Makassar 2-0 20,000
Wamena v Manokwari 3-1 5,000
Surabaya v Minhasa 5-3 8,000
Bali v Ternate 1-1 10,000
Sidoarjo v Persibom 3-0 15,000
Yogyakarta v Manado 0-0 10,000

1. Makassar 12 7 2 3 13-7 23
2. Ternate 13 6 4 3 13-9 22
3. Jayapura 12 6 1 5 18-12 19
4. Sidoarjo 13 5 4 4 18-12 19
5. Jepara 11 5 4 2 12-9 19
6. Bontang 13 5 4 4 11-9 19

Nice and congested at the top of Group 2 and if you want to know how congested, consider this. Arema Malang may not be having the best of seasons so far and they currently lie in the unfamiliar 11th. But just 2 points off the cluster of clubs on 19!

Part time for our man Christopher Wreh who scored again for Manokwari; this was their first away goal of the season! Mind you he's still got more bookings than Orville at panto time and his team lost 3-1 in a Papuan Derby and they're still bottom.

Surabaya were 3 up in 11 minutes and scored a 4th on the hour. Minhasa hit back with 3 goals in 19 minutes to set up a nail biting climax but Ariyanto got a 5th for Surabaya with 3 minutes to go. All fine and hunky dory but they're still in the bottom 4.

Ternate are keeping their good start going and today they visit Surabaya. A nostalgic home coming for coach Jacksen Tiago who spent many years with the East Javan club. Victory could see his new charges top, top, top of the league.

 

Arriving at the stadium Indonesia style








Monday, April 09, 2007

 

Group 1 weekend

No idea why I'm doing things arse round tit but there we have it.

Kediri v Pelita Jaya 2-2 10,000
Malang v Tangerang 2-1 23,000 (!)
Sleman v Bireuen 2-0 10,000
Sriwijaya v Tangerang City 1-1 25,000
North Jakarta v Bogor District 1-0 10,000
Bandung v Medan 0-0 19,000
Jakarta v Deli Serdang 1-1 5,000

Odd set of results. Malang getting over 20,000 for the visit of Tangerang??? I just hope that Benny Dollo was on a cut of the gate. Disappointing gates at Bandung and Jakarta for obvious reasons. And who'd have thought the abysmal Tangerang City would have gone to high flying Sriwijaya and nick a point in injury time. Both Jakarta and the Palembang team dropped home points for the first time this season. Three points separate the top 4 of Medan, Bandung, Jakarta and Sriwijaya. At the bottom there's just 3 points separating bottom club Tangerang City and 15th place North Jakarta. Sleman and Padang complete the bottom 4.

 

Persik Kediri v Sydney FC - the Sydney view

Mike from The Football Tragic recently posted some comments about this weeks game giving the run down of players likely to line up for Sydney and he has kindly allowed me to use it here. Especially useful as my knowledge of 'Stralian footballers pretty much ended the day I saw St George beat Sydney Croatia 3-0 in the old NSL and Andy Harper gave me his shirt!

From SFC's point of view: we played a trial game the other night against Marconi (a club in the NSW State League), and won 3-0 despite not looking remotely convincing. Our key player, the playmaker (and ex-Australian international) Steve Corica looks a little out of form. We're also suffering from a lack of pace in defence at the moment; there's a young kid (Nick Tsattalios) who we're trying at left back in place of the regular LB, a big, lumbering bloke called Topor-Stanley, who had a dreadful game against Urawa. Right-back is also a problem. In midfield we're quite strong though; look out for a young right-winger called Adam Casey, who will probably be used as a substitute. He's VERY fast. The team looks a lot more fluent under the new interim coach (and hopefully long-term coach) Branko Culina. Previously, as you probably know, we had the ex-England captain Terry Butcher, who was a bit of a disaster.Looking forward to reading your updates!-Mike.

 

This weeks games

Some interesting looking games this week. In Group 1 Bandung host Bireuen, Bogor District visit Sriwijaya, Medan go to Sleman while Padang play Deli Serdang and Jakarta have Banda Aceh visiting.

No predictions!

 

A kid's emotions

Bright eyed optimism





Unbelievable!





Dad, I'm hungry...














Yes, get in there son...

 

Persija Jakarta v PSDS Deli Serdang

No real report about the Jakarta game with Deli Serdang. Jakarta dominated but a first half goalkeeping error saw them go in at half time one down. Second half was all one way but despite the pressure the Kemayoran Lions rarely troubled the visiting keeper which was a shame. When they did he wasn’t up to it and Bambang equalized. A disappointing result for the Jak and that’s five points dropped out of the last six. They will be hoping for a victory on Wednesday at home to Banda Aceh. The only good news for them was the top 2 cancelled each other out and Sriwijaya’s shock draw at home to Tangerang City.

After the game I went to the Jakmania office to meet some of their people. The guy behind the movie tells me it should be ready in May. I also heard how the FA reversed their decision and decided to allow fans in. in short some of the Jakmania committee went round the house of the guy and begged and pleaded their case. Maybe because it was Easter but they relented and it was game on. Of course we didn’t know this till we bought our tickets. Fair play to the supporters for presenting their case and getting word out at such short notice. Never happen in England!

While talking in the shop the Persija assistant coach and new manager held a press conference where they were joined by the visiting PSDS coach. You could not see this happening at the Arsenal Supporters Club on St Thomas Road.

 

Siliwangi Stadium, Bandung





Yeah I know I'm not David Bailey but this shows an orange flare so there






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