Newly promoted Persik wins RI soccer league

Newly promoted Persik wins RI soccer league

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Persik Kediri won Indonesia's premier soccer league in its
first year in the topflight after routing former champion Persib
4-0 in their penultimate fixture in Kediri, East Java, on
Wednesday.

Thousands of soccer fans drove around in a convoy to celebrate
winning the championship, even though the club still has to play
its final match against Persikota Tangerang.

Persik's 64 points are unassailable, including its closest
rival rival Persikota, which suffered an 2-0 away loss to PSIS in
Semarang on the same day.

Gogi Manuel scored in the 12th and 69th minute for Persik with
Wawan Widiantoro and Solekan finding the net in the 32nd and 72nd
minutes respectively to send their fans into delirium, Antara
reported.

Euphoria ensued even before kick-off because the Persikmania,
as the fans are dubbed, were already confident about a positive
result against Persib.

Some of the fans displayed a replica of the league's trophy a
few minutes before the match at the Brawijaya Stadium, where some
15,000 home supporters had flocked.

Elation overwhelmed players and officials soon after the
referee whistled play over. An emotional team manager Iwan
Budianto had to be escorted to the dressing room.

Coach Jaya Hartono, assistant coach Mecky Tata and a number of
players were busy being congratulated by fans. They made way into
the dressing room bare-chested after the shirts were ripped off
by the fans.

In other matches, PSS Sleman beat 2002 champion Petrokimia
Gresik; Deltras defeated PSDS Deli Serdang and Persita outplayed
Arema 3-0.

Wednesday's results mean that PSIS swapped places with Persib
with the former now in sixth from bottom and the latter fifth
from bottom. As results stand they will have to win matches
against teams from first division to stay in the topflight for
the following season.

The bottom four: Petrokimia, PSDS, Arema and Barito Putra will
be automatically demoted to the first division.