Bojan Hodak Happy Persib Tops the Table, but Admits the Match Against Persija is Not Easy
JAKARTA - Persib Bandung coach Bojan Hodak admitted that he was happy with the team's achievement of topping the 2025/2026 half-season standings. However, he also admitted that playing against Persija Jakarta in the closing match of the half-season was not easy.
Persib Bandung sealed the top position in the 2025/2026 season after defeating Persija Jakarta in the 17th week of the Super League. In the match at the Gelora Bandung Lautan Api Stadium (GBLA) on Sunday, January 11, 2026, the hosts closed the match with a 1-0 victory through Beckham Putra's goal.
Seeing the final result of his team's game, Bojan Hodak admitted that he was happy, especially with Beckham's performance. Bojan also said that Maung Bandung actually wanted to record more numbers.
"We scored one goal. We want to score more, but the result is still there. It's normal."
"To be honest, I am very happy with this result. Especially I am happy with Beckham (Putra) because he managed to score a goal for the team's victory," said Bojan Hodak in a statement after the match, quoted Monday, January 12, 2026.
On the same occasion, Hodak also admitted that the victory over Persija was not achieved without hard work. He admitted that it was difficult to win the match from the team nicknamed Macan Kemayoran because both teams had the same ambition to win the first half of the season.
"As I said before, in an atmosphere like this, there won't be many opportunities. It's like a final match. Everyone has the ambition not to lose in a match like this," he said.
The additional three points put Persib at the top of the standings with 38 points from 17 matches. Maung Bandung is one point ahead of Borneo FC who are in second place.
Meanwhile, Persija ended the first half of the season in third place in the standings. Mauricio Souza's team is in third place in the standings with 35 points.
With the points gap so close, Persib is not necessarily in a safe position. Borneo, Persija, to Malut United who occupy the fourth position in the standings have the potential to disrupt Persib's efforts to maintain the top position until the end of the season.