Persija’s Title Unites Jakarta and Surrounding Areas

KOMPAS/HENDRA A SETYAWAN

Members of Jakarta’s Persija soccer team celebrate their victory over Mitra Kukar in the last match of the Go-JekLiga 1 at Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, Sunday (09/12/2018). Persija beat Mitra Kukar 2-1.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS -- Jakarta soccer club Persija has ended its 17-year Indonesian premier league title drought by defeating Mitra Kukar 2-1 in the finals of the Go-Jek Liga 1 on Sunday (9/12/2018). Residents of Jakarta and the surrounding cities, from the posh district of Senayan to the narrow alleyways in slums, were united in celebrating the victory.

Persija chants filled the Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) Stadium in Senayan, Jakarta, which turned into a sea of orange -- the color commonly associated with Persija -- after the team sealed its victory against Mitra Kukar. Striker Marko Simic scored the host team’s two goals, while Mitra Kukar’s sole goal was scored by Aldino Herdianto.

The Liga 1 title seems to have restored Persija’s glorious reputation on the national soccer scene. It is now the most successful team in Indonesia’s premier league with 11 wins. It is also the first team to win championship titles across three separate premier league eras, namely the union era, the Liga Indonesia era and now the Liga 1 era. “We have made history! Eleven trophies!” was written on a banner displayed on the gallery at the GBK Stadium.

The Persija-vs-Mitra Kukar match was watched by 68,873 soccer fans, a record- breaking viewership in this year’s Liga 1 season. A majority of them stayed inside the stadium for more than one hour after the match had ended to celebrate the moment.

“This is a priceless moment for me. I’ve spent almost 17 years in Persija. Now, finally, we are champions. This is the peak of the dreams of all Indonesian players,” said Persija team captain Ismed Sofyan, who held back tears after the match.

Persija coach Stefano Cugurra Rodriguez said the championship title was the fruit of years of hard work. He said the “Kemayoran Tigers” had had a difficult journey this season as a nomadic team without a stadium.

This season, they had to host matches in various places, including Jakarta, Bekasi, Cikarang, Bogor and Bantul. “However, everyone has been extraordinary. Despite playing outside of Jakarta, they still worked hard and remained solid,” said Liga 1’s best coach of 2018, affectionately called Teco.

Teco said he also appreciated Persija fans’ steadfast loyalty. According to him, the Liga 1 championship trophy that Persija won on Sunday was a gift for their loyalty. “The fans have also been extraordinary. Today, they filled up the GBK as usual,” he said.

That afternoon, the Senayan area was flooded with hundreds of thousands of Persija fans, some of whom had come all the way from Bogor, Tangerang or Depok. Despite having no match tickets, they still came to Senayan to immerse themselves in the euphoric celebration of victory.

Thousands of fans without tickets were accommodated at the Youth and Sports Ministry and the Gelora subdistrict office across the street from the GBK. Big screens were provided at the two offices to watch the match.

Due to limited space at the two locations, thousands of other Persija fans ended up on the roadside, watching the match any way they could. Persija fan club Jakmania member Rama, 18, from Kalideres, West Jakarta, for instance, watched the match on his cell phone.

“I knew that I would not get any ticket, but I came anyway. I just love the team. Who knows when Persija will get another victory? I came here to celebrate with my friends,” said Fauzi, another Jakmania member.

The victory celebration led to severe traffic jams in Senayan and on Jl. Gatot Subroto. Enthusiasm in celebrating the championship title was also seen in many other spots in Jakarta. A number of district and subdistrict offices set up gatherings to watch the match on Sunday.

In Lenteng Agung, dozens of locals of all ages had gathered in the hall of the local subdistrict office to watch the match on a television and celebrate Persija’s victory. The stormy weather did not dissipate their enthusiasm. “It’s just extraordinary. Children and old people gathered together to watch the match. Persija has united us,” said Rizal, 22, a Jakmania member in Lenteng Agung.

Meanwhile, in Makassar, supporters of the PSM Makassar soccer club also celebrated, despite their team failing to secure the championship title. The team scored one point less than Persija at the top of the group standing, despite defeating PSMS Medan with a convincing 5-1 on Sunday (WAD/JOG/E13/E14/REN/JON)