Victory Over Deltras Becomes Fresh Wind Of PSIM Amid Chaos

PSIM Yogyakarta focused on facing PSPS Pekanbaru after beating Deltras FC 1-0 in the last eight of Liga 2. (Gonang Susatyo)

YOGYAKARTA - PSIM Yogyakarta was hit by a small chaos while navigating the last eight of Liga 2. However, PSIM was able to pass the difficult test by winning 1-0 over Deltras FC.

Coach Erwan Hendarwanto remains a katteker or temporary coach of PSIM. The club also did not stop head coach Seto Nurdiyantoro and only rested the coach.

Likewise, Erwan was not used as head coach to replace Seto. Even though he brought PSIM to a 1-0 victory over Deltras FC in the first match of the last eight, Erwan still has the status of interim coach and at any time the team is again handled by Seto.

PSIM President Director Yuliana Tasno said management could not confirm how long Seto would be rested. According to him, the management wants to hear directly from the former PSS Sleman coach when he can be ready to return to the team in the continuation of the League 2 match.

"In principle, we did not terminate coach Seto's contract. It's just that for now Erwan is the interim coach. The situation is like that," said Yuliana.

The decision to rest Seto will not affect the main target, namely bringing PSIM promotion to Liga 1. According to him, the club is committed to PSIM rising caste. Likewise, Seto still hopes to lead Laskar Mataram to compete in Liga 1.

However, the transition of coach's duties has caused a little confusion. Rumors circulated that made Yuliana reiterated that the commitment to bring PSIM up caste had not changed. Moreover, PSIM is indeed the time to compete in the caste of the Indonesian League.

The confusion that PSIM was not serious was that the promotion finally disappeared after the team showed maximum performance against Deltras in the first match of the last eight.

In the match at the Mandala Krida Stadium, Yogyakarta, Monday, January 20, 2025, PSIM won one goal after the mainstay striker Rafael Rurugues broke into the Deltras goal.

This victory became a brilliant start for PSIM to face stiff competition in Group X. The three points made PSIM rank two. Their points are the same as PSP Pekanbaru, but PSIM lost the goal difference.

"These are three very valuable points. We started the last eight with good results. However, I am still not satisfied because we have difficulty how to maintain the advantage. Players still easily lose the ball," said Erwan.

Erwan did not notice the 1-0 result at home. According to him, Deltras was not an easy opponent. In fact, he had predicted that Deltras was difficult to beat.

"I have predicted that this will be a tough match. So I am happy that the target has been achieved," he said.

Responding to the situation that occurred in the team and the demands of supporters so that PSIM could qualify for League 1, Erwan considered it to be quite reasonable.

"This is actually a motivation for us. It is natural for supporters to want their favorite team to League 1. This is actually a challenge for us," said Erwan again.

PSIM again played the match in the last eight against a tough opponent, PSPS. The match was held at the PSPS home at the Kaharuddin Nasution Stadium, Pekanbaru, Sunday, January 26, 2025.