Long wait is over for Persipura<\/p>\n
Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Papuans have ample reason to rejoice after Persipura Jayapura
\nexceeded even its own expectations by reaching the 2005
\nIndonesian Soccer League final.<\/p>\n
\"This is indeed a blessing,\" Persipura manager M.R. Kambu, who
\nis also Jayapura mayor, told The Jakarta Post. \"Our highest
\ntarget was the quarterfinal.\"<\/p>\n
Sunday's final against hometown team Persija in Senayan,
\nCentral Jakarta, ends a long drought for the team and its fans.
\nIn 1996, Persipura, a three-time winner of the national
\nchampionships in the late 1980s, reached the final in the second
\nyear of the league.<\/p>\n
It lost 4-3 to PSM Makassar, and has failed to repeat the feat
\nuntil this year.<\/p>\n
Persipura beat PSMS Medan 1-0 in Jayapura on Wednesday to win
\nthe league's Eastern section with an undefeated record. About
\n40,000 fans celebrated the victory of the team -- nicknamed the
\n\"black pearls\" -- by parading a cup made of wood and covered with
\ngold paper around Mandala stadium and through the streets of the
\ncity.<\/p>\n
\"Persipura is going to Senayan,\" they shouted in a celebration
\nthat continued until the morning.<\/p>\n
The victory made headlines in local newspapers the following
\nday; To Senayan at last said the Cendrawasih Pos daily. A picture
\nof captain Edward Ivakdalam scoring the decisive goal featured
\nprominently, while coach Rahmad Darmawan was dubbed the \"doctor
\nof soccer\".<\/p>\n
Win or lose on Sunday, Persipura's fans are glad that it has
\nreturned from a long period in the also-ran wilderness since its
\n1996 final showing.<\/p>\n
In 2003, Kambu made a controversial decision to hire foreign
\nplayers. The addition of the new players helped Persipure finish
\nin the top five that year, although it slumped to 13th in 2004.<\/p>\n
Kambu was again ready to try something new, hiring Rahmad
\nDarmawan, former coach of Persikota Tangerang, to train
\nPersipura.<\/p>\n
He also recruited five more foreign players: Leng Lolo, David
\nIgbonevo and Erick Mabengga from Cameroon, David da Rocha from
\nBrazil and Victor Sergio from Argentina.<\/p>\n
It's a decision that has paid off.<\/p>\n
\"We recruit players from countries who have won the World
\nCup,\" Kambu said. \"We hope our players can learn from the foreign
\nplayers.\"<\/p>\n
Five national players -- talented teenager Boas Solossa,
\nJendri Pitoy, Edward Ivakdalam, Mauli Lessy and Jack Komboy --
\nwill also play on Sunday.<\/p>\n
\"On paper, Persipura players are better than Persija,\" Kambu
\nsaid, \"but the ball is round, and it will be up to the players to
\ndecide the outcome.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/long-wait-is-over-for-persipura-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}