Four Absent Players, Persija Timpang When Facing Persebaya At SUGBK This Weekend

JAKARTA - Persija Jakarta will face Persebaya Surabaya in the fifth week of Liga 1 2023/2024, Sunday 30 July. Will appear as the host at the Gelora Bung Karno (SUGBK) Main Stadium, the Kemayoran Tigers' strength is actually unequal.

This was because their four mainstay employees were absent from the match against Bajul Ijo. The four players are Hansamu Yama Pranata, Marko Simic, Muhammad Ferari, and Sandi Arta Samosir.

Hansamu Yama Pranata was confirmed to be absent due to his injury. He suffered a hamstring injury to his left leg while defending the Kemayoran Tigers against Bhayangkara FC, last July 16.

Then Persija is also certainly not strengthened by its mainstay young defender, Muhammad Ferarri. The 20-year-old player will be absent for some time to come because he is currently attending police education.

Sandi Arta Samosir also experienced the same situation. He received a call from the Indonesian Air Force (AU). The last name that was confirmed not to strengthen the Kemayoran Tigers was Marco Simic.

The Croatian player who returned to defend the capital team was forced to miss due to an injury in the match against Persita Tangerang, Saturday, July 22 yesterday.

In that match, Simic was actually projected to appear as a starter, but was forced to replace Aji Kusuma due to a calf injury during the warm-up ahead of the match.

"Ferari was absent because he was studying the police, Sandi (Samosir) our young striker received a call from the TNI, and Marko Simic was injured. Therefore, at the previous press conference I said this team needed one more striker," said Thomas Doll on the club's official website quoted on Monday 24 July.

With a situation like this, the German coach emphasized that Persija still has a lot to fix if he wants to continue to compete in the title race.

"Indeed, this is the condition. So we have to work hard because this team still needs time to practice. I think there are still many things that need to be addressed in this team," said Thomas Doll.