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PSM back in touch with fans with big win
Gripping: PSM Makassarâs Johan Yoga (right) fights for the ball with Persiba Balikpapan goalkeeper Ngurah KA during their Qatar National Bank (QNB) soccer league match at Andi Mattalatta Stadium in Makassar, South Sulawesi, on Monday
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span class="inline inline-center">Gripping: PSM Makassar's Johan Yoga (right) fights for the ball with Persiba Balikpapan goalkeeper Ngurah KA during their Qatar National Bank (QNB) soccer league match at Andi Mattalatta Stadium in Makassar, South Sulawesi, on Monday. PSM won 4-0. Antara/Yusran Uccang
After two years in the wilderness, PSM Makassar was back on home ground to kick off the Qatar National Bank (QNB) soccer league with a rousing 4-0 win over Persiba Balikpapan to the enthusiasm of its thousands of supporters.
The club had taken Bung Tomo Stadium in Surabaya, East Java, as its base during the controversy of the Indonesian Premier League (IPL). Its return to Andi Mattalatta Stadium drew some 30,000 supporters, mostly in red shirts.
They were yelling throughout the match, chanting the club anthem and banging drums. The noises became more raucous when a goal was scored.
'PSM has not been playing in Makassar in the past two years. We missed it because for us PSM is our pride. We love it very much. It gives us satisfaction when we watch them play. We are very happy that PSM is now back here,' Iskandar Muzakkir, a fan organizer, said on Monday.
He was delighted to watch his club run over their opponents 4-0.
College student Nurmi, 20, said the game was too good to miss as she was enthusiastic to have her club back in the city.
'I have followed PSM since childhood, either at the stadium or on television. Now that PSM is playing again in Makassar, I'm fired up about that and did not waste time coming to the stadium. I'm satisfied about today's game,' she said.
Supported by numerous home fans, PSM duly took the attack initiative and seized control of the match despite not fielding its Serbian duo Nemanja Vucicevic and Nenad Begovic. Coach Alfred Riedl was not on duty either in the dugout as the Austrian had reportedly flown home because of illness.
PSM's goal feast began through Ponaryo Astaman, who scored early in the first half. The score stood until break.
Team skipper Syamsul Haeruddin doubled the lead early in the second half, followed by two more goals by Johan Yoga and Muchlis Hadi.
'We are delighted to watch them play their characteristic game,' Iskandar said.
Persiba coach Eddy Simon Badawi offered his compliments to the home side.
'They played a good game. They deserved to win while our players struggled. Back home, we will evaluate them so that they can play better in the next matches,' he said.
Fans broke into celebration, parading around town and applauding the win.
They hope PSM can play consistently throughout the season as the club is bidding for a special present for its 100th anniversary, which falls on Nov. 2.
Founded in 1915, PSM became a leading club winning five crowns in the amateur domestic league between 1957 and 1994.
After the league turned professional, the club emerged as champion during the 1999/2000 season.
'We hope, in its 100th anniversary, PSM becomes a strong team to give the best gift to the club, supporters and its birth place,' said Rully Habibie, CEO of patron company PT Pagolona Sulawesi Mandiri.
He appealed to supporters to observe sportsmanship, warning that unruly behaviors could backfire.
'We are optimistic supporters are educated enough to respect rules and guard their club's pride. Being overly joyous can cause them to lapse about the rules,' he said.
Rully may feel assured of supporters' good behavior, at least temporarily, when a representative of the fans read out an oath, before the kickoff, declaring their pledge to stick to the rules in following games.
