JAKARTA - The 2024-2025 League 2 competition season brings new enthusiasm for PSIM Yogyakarta. After the draw at the owners meeting on Thursday, 25 July 2024, PSIM joined the middle group consisting of strong teams such as Bhayangkara Presisi FC and Adhyaksa Farmel FC. Brajamusti President, Burhan Thole, is optimistic that Laskar Mataram has a big chance of qualifying for League 1.
PSIM Yogyakarta will face eight other teams in the middle group, namely Persikas Subang, Persekat Tegal, Bhayangkara Presisi FC, Persijap Jepara, Persiku Kudus, Persipa Pati, Nusantara United, and Adhyaksa Farmel FC. Burhan Thole believes that Bhayangkara Presisi FC and Adhyaksa Farmel FC will be PSIM's toughest opponents. Adhyaksa Farmel, as a new club that managed to move up from League 3 Banten, is seen as a potential stumbling block because of its high enthusiasm and motivation.
"I believe PSIM can qualify for League 1," said Burhan Thole with full confidence when met in Jakarta, Monday, July 29. This hope is not without reason, considering that PSIM has made thorough preparations since the start of the season.
PSIM Yogyakarta has completed its quota of foreign players by recruiting Yusaku Yamadera, a defender from Japan who has experience playing in League 2 with Nusantara United last season. Yusaku is known not only to be solid in defense, but also able to assist attacks and score goals. Last season, he scored two important goals against Perserang Serang and PSDS Deli Serdang.
Apart from Yusaku, PSIM also brought in two other foreign players, Joao Pedro Oliveira Santos (Pedrinho) and Rafael de Sa Rodrigues (Rafinha). Pedrinho, who previously played for Persikabo in 1973, can operate as an attacking midfielder or wing striker. Meanwhile, Rafinha is a sharp striker who was PSCS Cilacap's goal machine in League 2 last season with a score of 9 goals.
Geographically, PSIM benefits because all group matches are taking place in Central Java and West Java. This helps maintain player stamina because they don't need to travel far outside the island. This factor, according to Burhan Thole, can provide advantages for PSIM in maintaining consistent performance throughout the season.
This season's League 2 competition format continues to use the last eight round consisting of three teams from the west and central groups and two teams from the east group. Previously, PSIM failed to qualify for League 1 even though they reached the last eight. However, with better preparation and a solid team composition, Burhan Thole believes this year is a golden opportunity for PSIM to reach League 1.
"With thorough preparation, high fighting spirit, solid management, support from supporters, and synergy with football stakeholders in Yogyakarta, we are optimistic that PSIM can qualify for League 1," said Burhan Thole hopefully.
"We also hope that with the current players, supported by a good coaching team, PSIM will immediately carry out trials with teams of the same level or with League 1 member teams. This must be done to find out the results of the TC that has been carried out," added Burhan Thole.
Brajamusti President, Burhan Thole, also hopes that the competition operator, PT LIB, will review the policy of prohibiting supporters from watching at the opponent's home ground. According to him, the league operators' concerns are excessive because visits to opponents' home grounds are a means of friendship between football supporters in Indonesia.
Support from Brajamusti, a fanatical PSIM supporter group that was founded in 2003 with tens of thousands of members, is expected to add enthusiasm and motivation for PSIM Yogyakarta to fight optimally in the 2024-2025 League 2 season. With this support, PSIM is expected to achieve its long-awaited target, namely promotion to League 1.
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