Black Pearls overcome long flights and tiring transit time to become the best football club in the country.
For Indonesian cash-hungry football clubs, the Mandala Stadium in Jayapura is not the most convenient place. All clubs can afford the luxury of direct flights; for many it involves at least a change, maybe even more, and the one-way trip can take 24 hours. A long journey for anyone, the only professional football with the muscles that need frequent stretching and exercise. And all this way just to lose!
The capacity of 30,000 Mandala Stadium is the most successful club home of Indonesia Persipura Jayapura. Since the Super League in Indonesia began in 2008-2009, they were crowned champions three times and finished runner-up three times. In that time, he has never finished lower than second, a remarkable achievement, no matter what the league. And of course, all the more remarkable given every away game, they play includes serious travel across time zones and islands.
Papuan kernel, Persipura provide stability that is too rare in Indonesian football. The last seven years have seen only two coaches to take control of the team; Brazilian Jacksen F. Tiago and more recently Osvaldo Lessa, who has been with the club in various capacities since 2009.
Boas Solossa
The Papuan core evident when the team takes the field in their distinctive red shirts and black stripes. Their teamsheet includes names such as Boas Solossa, Immanuel Wannggai Ruben Sanadi, Yohanes Pahabol Ian Kabes Lousi and Dominggus Fakdawer then Eduard Ivakdalam is considered a Papuan Steven Gerrard; a one-club man long where he spent 16 years. The Australian midfielder Robbie Gaspar, who spent several years playing in Indonesia, certainly evaluated the always calm Ivakdalam. "It was great technique, had a great left foot and was able to dictate the tempo of the game," recalled the former player of Sabah. "I know all the players seemed to him for advice."
Even the foreign players who come tend to stick around for a while; Cameroon Bio Paulin once played for RC Lens in France, but ended in Jayapura in 2007 and has been there ever since. It has now become an Indonesian citizen and made his debut for the national team earlier this year.
Undoubtedly, the most famous player Boas Solossa. Only Ivakdalam played more games for black pearls, but no one has scored more goals. Boas, whose uncle was a unique governor of Papua province, made his debut when he was 18 and was a first choice for club and country since, subject to the odd injury.
Known for his blistering pace and eye for goal, Boas quickly attracted the attention of foreign clubs, but has remained true to its roots far. Injuries may have hit a half-yard of his speed, but he still has enough in the locker to beat most defenders -. The last two seasons have seen scoring 41 goals in 62 games, a healthier return by any
standardAlthough Persipura remained masters of all they survey the scene of Indonesian football, their fortunes in Asian football club have been less dramatic.
Their first foray into the continent's club competition, the Champions League AFC was not a humiliation, losing five of their six matches and conceded 29 goals on the way finishing bottom seal of the group of four teams.
forced to play their home games in Jakarta far, things started badly when they were comfortably beaten 4-1 by South Korean side Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. Things are much worse in their second match when they were roundly debated 9-0 by Chinese side Changchun Yatai in China. This result would be that the victory of Changchun in the tournament and were only score one more goal in their last four games.
For Persipura there was nowhere to hide. The next was a trip to Japan and another heavy defeat, going down 5-0 to Kashima Antlers. Halfway through the group stage and disappeared under a black pearl of North Asia alongside goals avalanche.
The victory over Changchun Yatai in their last game 2-0 was even a relief. Persipura had been tested at the highest level and found severely wanting.
They were returned to competition in 2012, but this time they are out of the qualifying round, falling 3-0 in a playoff against Adelaide United.
They found more luck in the AFC Cup, reaching the semifinals in 2014. We will never know how far they have obtained a year later. Drawn against Malaysian side Pahang, visitors are as far away as Jakarta before heading home after finding a number of their foreign players refused admission to Indonesia because they did not have the proper visa.
The AFC responded by assigning the 3-0 tie in Pahang, effectively ending the participation of Persipura, and soon after, FIFA suspended Indonesia from one of its competitions authorized, including the AFC Cup, over alleged government interference in the sport.
The suspension ofFIFA ended 2015 Indonesia Super League Persipura to second place after two games played. For now the future is uncertain, not only for Indonesian soccer but also the most successful club in the country. It is hard not to feel some sympathy for the players and fans of this club, private as they were not by the efforts on the ground, but by the defects-more out of it. A promising season dashed.
There is talk of Indonesia Super League resumed later in the year, with October being discussed. If that happens, and there are still many bridges to cross and the obstacles to overcome, while Persipura will at least do their best to continue from where they left off with familiar names nucleus awaiting 'to be freed.