u/JenderalWkwk

I've been following Indonesian football for quite a while now, and I find it fascinating, especially when it comes to clubs' strength on league table season-by-season; as well as off-pitch matters such as fan culture, stadium management, club management, club histories, and the sociological dimensions of football club-average citizen relations. I’ve never been a regular matchday attendee (I quite value mine own life), but I make sure to keep up with the table results and follow the stories behind the clubs.

Personally, my attention is generally split across three clubs that mean something to me for different reasons.

Persija Jakarta is the one closest to home. Being from Jakarta, I do want to see Jakarta's own club be successful in the league and more connected to the city's identity. The club is one of the oldest clubs in the country, though it has always been quite disconnected from the city as a whole (until the rise of The Jakmania). Persija has the all-time most number of Perserikatan titles, though it was chiefly during this Perserikatan days that the club was seen as just a "national" club and not one representing Jakarta and its people. The Jakmania was quite an interesting phenomenon, a fanbase engineered by Governor Sutiyoso for political capital, but also basically a fanbase that brought life into Persija's matchday stands where there was none. But while The Jakmania are incredibly passionate and numerous, they often feel like a separate group from your "average" Jakartan, like a thing that you have to be initiated to get in. And despite being such a successful club in history (especially during Perserikatan days), I feel like Persija today remains lacking in a narrative that connects it to the city it seeks to represent. Feels like they need to work more on that. Always felt too that Persija felt more connected to Jakarta during ISL era, especially with Bambang Pamungkas not only being a club legend, but also a Jakarta icon. Guess somewhere along the way as we get into Liga 1 era that connection was sort of lost and needed to be rebuilt.

Then there’s Persib Bandung, right now arguably the biggest and most successful team in the country. They just won back-to-back Liga 1/Super League titles (2023–24 and 2024–25) and now close to winning it again in 2025-26 season, and they’re looking like a real dynasty in the modern era. With a rich history going involving Perserikatan titles and a proud symbol of not just Bandung, but also West Java as a whole, Persib isn’t just a football club, it’s practically a cultural institution. The fan culture, the pride, the way the whole region rallies behind them... it’s genuinely impressive and something I admire a lot. They show what it looks like when a club and its community are completely in sync. I went to college in Bandung (Jatinangor, actually, but come on), and I have to say, the kind of football culture they have over there in Bandung, is certainly something that Jakarta should strive for. Like there's real pride in Persib found in an average Bandung citizen, regardless of social class, occupation, and educational background. Here in Jakarta, it often feels like the 'upper middle' and upper classes typically dissociate themselves from Persija, or any kind of Indonesian football really (aside from the National Team), mostly due to hooliganism.

And finally, PSMS Medan holds a special place in my heart for what the club historically represented. Now struggling in Liga 2/Championship, they were once a powerhouse and a beautiful symbol of North Sumatran unity. In their glory days (especially the “Killer” era and strong Perserikatan performances, with their iconic rap-rap football), PSMS brought together players from so many different ethnic and religious backgrounds, Malay, Batak, Minang, Chinese-Indonesians, etc. all fighting together bringing glories for the city and the province. They achieved great success domestically and even made an impact in Asian competitions, once upon a time at least. I'd even go as far as to say that the downfall of PSMS (due to multiple mismanagements over the years) basically led to the loss of an important cultural institution and a champion of multicultural unity in North Sumatra.

Also quite very much invested in Mataram teams PSIM Yogyakarta, Persis Solo, and PSS Sleman (though unfortunately in recent years the three teams haven't played in the same league simultaneously, with PSIM in Liga 2 while Persis and PSS in Liga 1 last season, PSS in Liga 2/Championship while PSIM and Persis in Liga 1/Super League this season, and as for next season, it's potentially PSS and PSIM in Super League while Persis be in Championship - they're facing a relegation battle now). ISL-era giant Persipura is also quite a personal fascination of mine, though now they're in Liga 2/Championship; then also Bali United being a very professional club which managed to root itself among the Balinese folks and once a dominant force in Liga 1, though they're now a mid-table team; then also Borneo Samarinda, Dewa United Banten, and Malut United which has been three teams that for the past three seasons have consistently be in Top 6; and of course there's also Persebaya Surabaya which has been the only Perserikatan-era club to (despite never really being a serious title contender) consistently finish in Top 6 (except for that one time in 2023-24 season where they finished 12) since 2021 other than Persib (though ofc Persib has been the only one consistent in Top 6 since 2021, winning 2 titles and potentially 3 now).

So yeah, I’m a bit of a romantic observer of Indonesian football, loving the history, the regional pride, and the ups and downs.

Anyone else here actively following the league? What’s your team and why do you support them? Would love to hear your stories, whether you’re a die-hard Bobotoh, Jakmania, or support a smaller club with its own unique soul.