PSIM Yogyakarta Rests Coach Seto Nurdiyantoro, Brajamusti: Doesn't Change Target Of Top 8
YOGYAKARTA - PSIM Yogyakarta rested coach Seto Nurdiyantoro ahead of the final match of the 2024/2025 Liga 2 preliminary. Seto's position was replaced by interim coach Erwan Hendarwanto, who was previously an assistant coach.
PSIM took a surprising step. There is only one game left against Persiku Kudus who determines PSIM's move to the last eight. However, the club actually rested Seto to be replaced by Erwan.
PSIM management would like to thank Seto for his dedication, hard work, and great contribution in developing the team. PSIM also stated that Seto remains an important part of the PSIM extended family.
"The management entrusted Coach Erwan with one frequency in the coaching team. We believe the coach can lead the team while Seto rests, and give his best for PSIM," said PSIM's managing director, Yuliana Tasno.
The decision was unexpected after PSIM picked one point from the draw against Persekat Tegal. The additional one point thwarted Laskar Mataram's efforts to improve the ranking. However, the team still remains in third position, which is a minimum requirement to qualify for the next round.
The final match will be decisive. PSIM, which has 26 points, is only one point ahead with Adhyaksa FC, who is ranked fourth. In the last match, Adhyaksa FC hoped to get full points at home to Persekat while hoping that PSIM would slip against Persikau.
Erwan, who became a caretaker, also bears the burden of not being light. The first match he played against Persiku at the Mandala Krida Stadium, Saturday, January 11, 2025, which had to be won because he determined PSIM's steps.
Responding to the change of coach after Seto's rest, PSIM Brajamusti's supporters hoped that it would not interfere and change the target to the top eight.
Presiden Brajamusti, Muslich Burhanudin menyatakan suporter mendukung sepenuhnya keputusan manajemen. Menurut dia siapa pun yang menjadi pelatih tetap harus bisa membawa PSIM lolos ke babak delapan besar yang merupakan target pertama tim di Liga 2.
"Whatever the condition, Brajamusti still maintains conduciveness ahead of the match against Persikau. We still support the team, whoever is given the authority to hold the team. This is what I convey to my supporters," said Burhanudin in Yogyakarta, Wednesday, January 8, 2025.
"We will play home matches and are optimistic that we can win because it is a requirement to qualify for the top eight," said the leader of the supporters group who is familiarly called Thole.
Burhanudin, further said that supporters still support Erwan. Moreover, Erwan is not a foreign figure for PSIM. Previously, he had interpreted Laskar Mataram. This season, Erwan became Seto's assistant so that he did not need to adapt to the players.
"We fully support the coach of EH [Erwan]. And, we wish the best for PSIM. There is no need for blasphemy or anything. If you only blaspheme without a solution it is tantamount to plunging it down because it can break the spirit of the players," he said.
Thole appealed to supporters to continue to support PSIM in the life and death match against Persikau.
"The match against Persiku is not the end of everything. If we win, then we qualify for the top eight. We prove that Laskar Mataram still has high motivation to qualify for League 1," he said.