Call them niche. Call them cult. Call them overrated. Call them inspirational or call them the greatest success story in global Football fan culture; the groundbreaking work done by Brigata Curva Sud makes PSS Sleman one of the most remarkable Football clubs when it comes to support in the entire world. Read more about their story here.
Having added the final signature, Fandi Ahmad Yani threw down the pen with a sigh, turned to his counterpart and extended a firm hand. As Kaji Riki (a representative of Ultras Gresik) shook it, a polite round of applause rippled among the journalists and reporters gathered in the conference room. The six men sat at the table congratulated each other on the business conducted that day before turning to force a smile for the photographers.
It had happened at long last. Gresik United Football Club is owned by Continue reading
Seen in Bali, as you can probably guess. Persija Jakarta is one of Indonesia’s big clubs.
Football fans often don’t travel on away days in Indonesia, partly thanks to the complex geography and partly due to restrictions and bans. However, for various reasons, playing away against Bali United FC is often a season highlight for many Indonesian fan groups.
For part I of Sunnis, Sukarno and Soccer, please click here.
It is easy to make the mental leap that Indonesia is “more Muslim” than its sibling Malaysia is. But if that is the case, why are Koranic prayers read at before Football matches in Malaysia and not in Indonesia? The answer perhaps lies in the path to independence of both modern nation states.
It is something of a sour point to the Chinese and Indian Malaysians that Islam, a faith that is entirely foreign to them, has been chosen as their state religion. In a country where ethnicity is a factor that influences your legal rights and civil status, the Chinese and Indian Malaysians are somewhat used to playing second fiddle.
The British facilitated the migration of their ancestors from Canton and Kerala into their Southeast Asian territories in Continue reading
A gruff voice boomed across the ground, magnified to ensure absolute clarity. The chatter of noise from the terraces stopped abruptly. All spectators shuffled to their feet. On the ground floor, I was already on mine, but to my left a handful of young men in one of the media boxes end their conversation and put their smartphones away in haste before bowing their heads. The exact message of the announcement was lost on me, but I Continue reading
This week is the turn of the Mataram, the collective name for PSIM Yogyakarta fans. A selection of rather classy designs down there to have a browse through.
PSS Sleman are a small outfit competing in the Indonesian Liga 2 that hail from the neighbourhood of Sleman just north of Yogyakarta in Java. The club has become relatively famous worldwide thanks to the actions of its primary Ultra group, Brigata Curva Sud, who broke away from the PSS hooligan faction “Slemania” to focus more on creativity than aggression in their support for the club. Such is the extent of BCS’ influence now that the group actually sponsors the club via merchandise sales of their own clothing and accessories. It is a remarkable story, and one you should read up on.
Bonek is the fan group of Indonesian heavyweights Persebaya Surabaya, who have just been promoted back to Liga 1. The club has had a long recent battle with the governing body of Indonesian Football, the PSSI, thus Persebaya Surabaya have just been licenced to play in the league again. Bonek themselves are a bunch known for wild behaviour, and as such, have a deservedly fierce reputation across the country.
Just ignore the PSIM Yogyakarta sticker sat in the middle for some reason….
From Boothferry To Germany 