The reason for Persija Jakarta’s cancellation of the friendly match against Atletico Madrid is their participation in the 2024 President’s Cup. Initially, there were rumors that Persija would face Atletico Madrid on Saturday (August 3) at Jakarta International Stadium (JIS) as part of their preparations for the upcoming season. Persija qualified for the semifinal stage of the 2024 President’s Cup and was set to play against Persis Solo for third place on the same day at Stadion Manahan, Solo. “It was definitely not possible because we were involved in the third-place match of the 2024 President’s Cup,” Persija’s Director Mohamad Prapanca told reporters. He explained that Atletico Madrid could only come on that specific date, which conflicted with Persija’s schedule. “We were ready to host them, but we had to adhere to the regulations set by our federation,” Prapanca continued. Prapanca is unsure if Atletico Madrid will still visit Indonesia after the friendly was canceled. He mentioned that Persija initially planned to test their strength against the Spanish giants. “I don’t know. You should ask the promoter whether Atletico Madrid will come or not. As for the planning, yes, the plan was there,” Prapanca said. “But the promoter also needs to get approval from our federation and PT LIB to see if it could be arranged during the 2024 President’s Cup,” he concluded.
Foreign coaches continue to dominate BRI Liga 1 2024/2025. A total of 14 clubs have employed foreign coaches. Well-known names like Stefano Cugura, Milomir Seslija, and Bernardo Tavares remain in the mix. However, there are also new faces entering the competition. Four foreign coaches making their debut in BRI Liga 1 2024/2025 are Juan Esnaider, Joel Cornelli, Carlos Pena, and Wagner Lopes. Carlos Pena will be under the spotlight as he replaces Thomas Doll, a popular figure among Persija Jakarta fans. If Carlos Pena does not achieve good results early in the season, he will face significant pressure.
For the 2024/2025 season, each club in BRI Liga 1 is allowed to contract up to eight foreign players with no restrictions on their countries of origin. Persebaya Surabaya has signed Darryl Lachman as their seventh foreign player for the season. Initially, Persebaya planned to use only six foreign players, but recent developments led them to recruit Darryl Lachman. Darryl Lachman, a 34-year-old central defender, previously played for Perth Glory, participating in 23 games during the 2023/2024 season. He has also played for several Dutch clubs including FC Groningen, PEC Zwolle, FC Twente, Cambuur, and Willem II. PSBS Biak has made a new foreign signing as well, bringing in Jaimerson Xavier, who played for Persis Solo in the previous season. Check out the complete list of foreign players for each club in BRI Liga 1 2024/2025 below.
Here is the list of coaches for BRI Liga 1 clubs at the start of the 2024/2025 season. Out of the 18 coaches working in BRI Liga 1, four new faces will add to the competition. It is common in past seasons for clubs to part ways with their coaches. For instance, Persib Bandung and Luis Milla separated when the league had just entered the third week. Even big names are not guaranteed job security, as shown by Aji Santoso’s departure from Persebaya due to a series of poor results. For the 2024/2025 season, coaching changes are expected to continue. So, who are the coaches competing in BRI Liga 1 2024/2025 and what is their track record? Check out the details below, Bolaneters.
The match between PSM Makassar and Persis Solo on Saturday, August 10, 2024, will be streamed live on Vidio starting at 15:30 WIB. PSM Makassar has undergone significant player changes, losing the Sayuri brothers and yet to find suitable replacements. PSM struggled in the 2024 President’s Cup, failing to win any of their three preseason matches. On the other hand, Persis Solo performed reasonably well in the President’s Cup, losing only twice in five games. Despite some inconsistency, Persis Solo, led by experienced coach Milomir Seslija, may start the league on a strong note. The teams previously met in the 2024 President’s Cup group stage, where they drew 2-2. In the 2023/2024 season, each team won one match against the other, both by a score of 1-0. PSM Makassar is expected to field many young players in the 2024/2025 season, aiming to play a ‘rock and roll’ style with their youth. However, experienced players like Muhammad Arfan and Yuran Fernandes will be crucial for the team. If they can effectively lead both tactically and technically, PSM could become a formidable team. “PSM Makassar has a lot of young players promoted to the senior team. But once again, I am ready to work hard and compete,” said PSM Makassar’s young player, Mufli Hidayat.
Despite the dominance of foreign coaches, local coaches still hold positions. However, unlike previous seasons, Aji Santoso’s name is absent from the BRI Liga 1 competition. The four local coaches competing in BRI Liga 1 2024/2025 are Hendri Susilo, Imran Nahumarury, Rahmad Darmawan, and Widodo C. Putro. Imran Nahumarury will attract considerable attention as he leads the newly promoted Malut United, which has made several high-profile signings. Imran is expected not only to devise tactics but also to maintain harmony in the dressing room.
