Island Jumpers in Indonesian Football

source: blog.djarumbeasiswaplus.org

Football is the most popular sport in Indonesia. The sport is very famous as it is played, watched, and enjoyed by the youths and elderlies, men and women, as well as the fortunates and the less-fortunates of Indonesia. It’s no surprise that there are a lot of football clubs in Indonesia, along with their loyal and militant supporters.

Indonesia itself is the world’s largest archipelagic country. Located on the crossing of Pacific and Indian Oceans, extending 5,120 Km from east to west and 1,760 Km from north to south. There are more than 17,000 islands scattered across the area within 3 time zones (West, Central, and East). About 6,000 out of the 17,000+ islands are inhabited, and out of 6,000 inhabited islands, there are 5 major islands: Sumatera, Java, Kalimantan (Borneo), Sulawesi (Celebes), and Papua.

Indonesia
source: wikimedia.org

Each major islands, of course, has football clubs in their respective provincial cities, regencies or districts. Java is the most football-club-populated island among others. There are 30+ clubs established on that island, in which most of them are participating in the official national competitions held by the PSSI (Persatuan Sepak bola Seluruh Indonesia – All Indonesian Football Association). Sumatera has 12+ clubs, Papua has 10+ clubs, and Kalimantan has 7+ clubs. Lastly, Sulawesi with only around 5 clubs.

Due to (developing) incompetency in terms of management, Indonesian football clubs are reluctant to sign players for more than a year (or a season) on their contract duration. That’s why only few players stay for quite a while in a club, while the most of them are changing clubs every season.

Among thousands of players who have played or have been playing in Indonesia, only some of them who have the experience to play for clubs in different islands. Some of them have even played for more than 3 clubs in more than 3 different islands. On this blogpost, I’d like to share to you some of the players of this particular kind, the Island Jumpers. Here’s the list.

source: goal.com

Hendra Ridwan
Sumatera: -
Java: Persib (2011-12), Arema (2008-09)
Kalimantan: Mitra Kukar (current), PKT Bontang (2006)
Sulawesi: PSM (2010)
Papua: Persipura (2009-10)

source: goal.com

Yandri Pitoy
Sumatera: -
Java: Persikota (2002-04), Persija (end-2011), Persib (2011-12), Persebaya (current)
Kalimantan: Persmin (youth career)
Sulawesi: Persma (2000-01)
Papua: Perseman (2010), Persiram (2013)

source: goal.com

Ponaryo Astaman

Sumatera: Sriwijaya FC (2009-13)
Java: Persija (2008-09), Arema (2007-08)
Kalimantan: PKT Bontang (2000-03)
Sulawesi: PSM (2004-06, current)
Papua: -

source: tribunnews.com

Asri Akbar

Sumatera: PSMS (2008-09), Semen Padang (2007-08),

Sriwijaya FC (current)
Java: Persib (2013)
Kalimantan: Persiba (Balikpapan) (2010-2012)
Sulawesi: PSM (2009-10)
Papua: -

source: id.wikipedia.org

Cristian Carrasco
Sumatera: PSMS (2004)
Java: Persebaya (2005), Persita (current)
Kalimantan: -
Sulawesi: Persma (2007), PSM (2009-10)
Papua: Persipura (2006)

source: goal.com

Ferdinand Sinaga

Sumatera: Semen Padang (2011-12)
Java: Persib (current), PPSM (2009-10)
Kalimantan: Persisam (2013)
Sulawesi: -
Papua: Persiwa (2010-11)

source: harianorbit.com

Hamka Hamzah
Sumatera: -
Java: Persebaya (2002-03), Persik (2004), Persija (2005-08)
Kalimantan: Persisam (2009-10), Mitra Kukar (2011-13)
Sulawesi: PSM (2001-02)
Papua: Persipura (2010-11)

source: supersoccer.co.id

Markus Haris Maulana 

Sumatera: PSMS (2003-08, 2011-12)
Java: Arema (2009), Persib (2010-11), Persik (2008)
Kalimantan: -
Sulawesi: PSM (current)
Papua: Persidafon (2013)

source: goal.com

Henry Njobi Elad
Sumatera: PSPS (2008-09)
Java: Persekam Metro FC (2010-11)
Kalimantan: Barito Putera (current)
Sulawesi: PSM (2009-10)
Papua: -

 

source: lintas.me

Osas Saha

Sumatera: PSMS (2011-12)
Madura: Persepam MU (start-2013)
Kalimantan: Persisam (end-2013)
Sulawesi: -
Papua: Persiram (current)

source: wikimedia.org

Rachmat Latief
Sumatera: Sriwijaya FC (2010-11)
Java: -
Kalimantan: Persiba (Balikpapan) (2011-12), Mitra Kukar (2013)
Sulawesi: PSM (2007-09, current)
Papua: Persiram (2009-10) 






None of the players mentioned above has completed the status of the True Island Jumper. Meaning that none of them have played for clubs in 5 different major islands.
 
Due to their age and preferences, it’s difficult for Ponaryo Astaman, Henry Elad Njobi and Asri Akbar to complete the status. Nevertheless, the opportunity is still there for them if they are willing to play for Papua based club at the end of their career.
 
Cristian Carrasco faces the same situation and it seems that he’d prefer to end his career with Persita rather than moving to a club in Kalimantan.
 
Markus Harris Maulana seems to have 2 or 3 years ahead of his goalkeeping career, which could end up with him playing for a club in Kalimantan to complete the status.
 
Osas Saha still has to play for clubs in Java and Sulawesi to complete the status. He has quite a chance considering his customary short-tenures, though.
 
The speedy Ferdinand Sinaga leaves only Kalimantan club on his CV to complete the status. He’s still young, which means chances are very open for him. His only challenge is the fact that there’s only PSM as top flight club in Sulawesi which is appropriate with his quality.
 
Hamka Hamzah, Hendra Ridwan and Yandry Pitoy just have to play for any club in Sumatera to win the status. They have a considerably great chances among themselves to make it, even in the near future.
 
Rachmat Latif has the simpler task to get the status. He only has to play for any of 30+ clubs in Java before he retired.

However, even if any of them ever completed the remaining requirements to get status, that player is not going to be the first player ever to win it. Because it has been reserved for:

source: newsgaruda.blogspot.com

Heru Nerly

Sumatera: PSBL (Langsa) (2006), Semen Padang (2010-11)
Java: Persija (2009), Gresik Unted (2006), Persibo (2005)
Kalimantan: Mitra Kukar (2011-12)
Sulawesi: PSM (2010)
Papua: Persipura (2008-10)

The wandering former fisherman from Kupang has done it already. He has played for many different clubs in 5 major Indonesian islands throughout his career. Although the fact that he only played for less than a year for some clubs, it still counts. He also brought the 2008-2009 ISL title to wherever his current home is. He is the True Island Jumper of Indonesian Football.
 

By the way, I have no idea of his whereabouts this season. He might still be playing for Mitra Kukar. Or probably playing for a club somewhere in this country...
 

Any thoughts? Please share.
 

Thank you!   :)