Perfect Conclusion for the Dominance of “Juku Eja”
The 23-year wait for the championship title was perfected with two individual trophies for two influential figures for PSM this season.
By
RENY SRI AYU ARMAN, MACHRADIN WAHYUDI RITONGA, M IKHSAN MAHAR
·5 minutes read
ANTARA/ABRIAWAN ABHE
A number of PSM Makassar footballers celebrated after defeating Borneo FC 3-0, in the BRI League 1 match at the BJ Habibie Stadium, Pare-Pare Regency, South Sulawesi, Sunday (16/4/2023). PSM Makassar is the champion of BRI League 1 2022/2023.
PAREPARE, KOMPAS — PSM Makassar finished the 2022-2023 championship season in the BRI Indonesia Liga 1 with a 3-0 win over Borneo FC on Sunday (16/4/2023), at the Gelora BJ Habibie Stadium, Parepare, South Sulawesi. The parade of PSM supporters and players after the game became a thank you and a sign of love for residents of Parepare, which this season became the home ground of PSM.
The 23-year wait for the championship title was perfected with two individual trophies for two influential figures for PSM this season. PSM coach Bernardo Tavares was named the best tactic interpreter, while Willem Jan Pluim, playmaker and PSM captain, won the best player title.
The Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) plans to change the format of the 2023-2024 season. The headline "League 1" will be removed. The full competition format will also be changed because the determination of the champion was determined by the playoffs, which were played by the top-four teams. Thus, PSM became the last champion of the League 1 era, which began in 2017.
Tavares's team closed this season with 75 points from 34 matches, equaling the highest points of League 1 won by Bali United last season. PSM also set a new record as the team with the fewest defeats in one Indonesian League season since the unification in 1994-1995. PSM only suffered three defeats, namely to Madura United, Persija Jakarta and PSIS Semarang. The three negative results happened in away games.
"This title is the fruit of the hard work of all parties at the club. We will try even harder to maintain this achievement next season," said PSM president director Sadikin Aksa on Sunday.
Tavares praised the full support of supporters who tirelessly supported his squad. "Last season was a difficult time for us. From that experience, this team became strong and underwent a fantastic season," he said.
We will try even harder to maintain this achievement next season.
The 23rd victory by PSM in the final duel was the fruit of goals from Yance Sayuri (12th minute), Yakob Sayuri (31') and Pluim (60').
This success was greeted enthusiastically by Parepare residents. Firecrackers and fireworks were set off in the stands. Even though PSM had been confirmed as league champion since the 32nd week, residents and supporters waited to enthusiastically watch the match. From Saturday, hundreds of supporters from Makassar and a number of regions in South Sulawesi traveled to Parepare.
RENY SRI AYU ARMAN
Spectators at Andi Makkasau Field, Parepare, South Sulawesi celebrated the victory of PSM Makassar, as Indonesian League I Champion, Sunday (16/4/2023).
There were even supporters coming from West Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi and as far as Jakarta. They brought different community flags, but their goal was one, supporting PSM. "Actually, I’ve come to Parepare not merely to watch the match, what is more important is to see PSM lifting the championship trophy. Finally, it has happened after 23 years," said Andika (40), a supporter who came from Makassar.
The stadium capacity of 8,000 left many supporters unable to get in. The enthusiasm of the fans did not recede even though ticket brokers raised ticket prices five-fold. Even though they did not get any tickets, they still came to Parepare and spread out to a number of viewing points together, among other places, at the Andi Makkasau field, the location of the Cinta Habibie-Ainun Monument.
Persib onvestigasi
In Bandung, the management of Persib Bandung resigned after they had sanctions imposed by the PSSI again regarding the ignition of flares in Persib’s final match of League 1 2022/2023 on Saturday (15/4). The flares lighted up the Gelora Bandung Lautan Api Stadium (GBLA) in Bandung when Persib lost to Persikabo 1973, 1-4. The match ended in chaos when a number of spectators lit the flares in the stands and invaded the pitch.
Director of PT Persib Bandung with Dignity Teddy Tjahjono, said on Sunday that an inspection of the bags and belongings of the spectators was carried out at the entrances to the stadium. However, there were still those who managed to bring in the flares and lit them. "We will clearly receive heavy sanctions from the PSSI Disciplinary Commission," he said.
PT Liga Indonesia Baru (LIB), the operator of League 1, is awaiting the match report from “the investigation which is still ongoing. We have collected official reports from the match supervisors,” said director of media of PT LIB Hanif Marjuni. If it is found to be in violation Persib faces fines or playing matches behind closed doors at the beginning of next season.
Persib has been fined several times for setting off flares. After the first match of League 1 at Wibawa Mukti Stadium, Cikarang, on 24 July 2022, Persib had to pay Rp 200 million to the PSSI Disciplinary Commission due to the actions of supporters who lit flares. Similar sanctions were received after the match against PSS Sleman in the fifth week in Sleman and then when hosting Persija at the GBLA.
The incident began when a number of flares were lit in the northern and southern stands of the stadium. Rina (26), a resident of Bandung who was watching in the eastern stands, said she was worried when thick smoke enveloped everything and supporters went on tothe field.
Soccer observer Anton Sanjoyo believed that the situation in GBLA on Saturday showed the management of the competition had not improved. Moreover, the action of Persib supporters violated world soccer body FIFA’s rules.
