MR Kambu, the architect of Persipura's famous victory

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura, Papua

Persipura Jayapura and Menase Robert Kambu are considered one and the same by supporters, mentioned in the same breath when discussing the latest exploits of the soccer team.

The chairman and manager of the team nicknamed the "black pearls" is credited with taking the Indonesian League also-ran and making them contenders -- and then champions.

The Jayapura mayor took over the reins in 2001, when Persipura were threatened with relegation from the league. He immediately began making difficult, sometimes unpopular decisions in his ambition to make the team worthy of its promise.

"I thought Persipura was very unfortunate and wondered what was wrong with the club," he recalled.

Officials failing to make a positive contribution to the team were let go; players known for being drunks and slackers were shown the door and recruitment was made more professional.

Foreign players were hired, put under contract and salaries were raised. The hiring of foreigners was particularly contentious, with gripes that there was no need to bring in outsiders with a local pool of talent.

"It's indeed very expensive but cost must never be a barrier to the quest for achievement," the native of Sorong, Papua said.

The tough reforms have paid off; although the team was 13th in the 10th edition of the league in 2004, it triumphed over Persija Jakarta in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Sept. 25 in a nail-biting 3-2 finish to become champion.

For this year's league, Kambu recruited five foreign players and appointed Rahmad Dharmawan -- a former coach of Persikota Tangerang.

"Pak Kambu braved public controversy because Persipura had been against hiring non-Papuan players, having confidence in the skills of locals. But the team always came unstuck in the main division," said club secretary Iwan Nazaruddin.

Persipura notched a runner-up finish in the second Indonesian League in 1996, but then it started to unravel. Kambu blames the nepotistic attitude of former officials, who would hire their own relatives and fiercely opposed bringing in foreigners.

Now that Persipura is the champion, the criticism of his daring measures have been replaced by praise. When the Persipura 11 arrived at the Sentani Airport in Jayapura after their win, Kambu was warmly welcomed as a hero.

It's been a very auspicious year for the Kambus. Apart from Kambu's reelection on July 27 and Persija's victory, his two children, Hans and Agustina, have finished their medical and law studies respectively while Persipura is now atop the ranks of Djarum National League 2005.

Kambu, 52, believes in the importance of faith, including on the soccer pitch.

"Don't forget to pray, that's what pak Kambu always advises his players to do," said Persipura player Jack Komboy, noting that a prayer service was conducted at the team's hotel before the final last month.

"While Persija relied on a large number of supporters, Persipura has faith in God."

Kambu likened the match against Persija to a David-and-Goliath contest, but now he wants to turn the former minnow into a national giant to be reckoned with on the regional scene.

Other winners of the Indonesian League who have qualified for the Asian Champions series have lost in a flood of goals.

"My aim is to make Persipura far better than previous national teams, at least by minimizing the score in our goal," he said.