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'My heart bleeds': Persija veteran Bambang Pamungkas retires after 20-year career
Tuesday’s match between the Jakarta-based soccer team and the Persebaya Surabaya soccer club at the Bung Karno Stadium in Central Jakarta became Bambang’s last game.
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Persija star veteran Bambang Pamungkas (center) raises his framed official jersey after announcing his retirement from professional soccer on Tuesday. (Antara/M. Risyal Hidayat)
O
ne of Indonesia’s most popular athletes and a veteran Persija star, Bambang Pamungkas, has officially announced his retirement from professional soccer after an outstanding 20-year career.
Tuesday’s match between the Jakarta-based soccer team and the Persebaya Surabaya soccer club at the Bung Karno Stadium in Central Jakarta became Bambang’s last game.
The 39 year-old striker rolled into the match only at the 75th minute, earning enthusiastic cheers from the Persija fans, who are known as Jakmania.
Although it ended with Persebaya’s 2-1 victory over Persija, the main attention of the spectators was centered on Bambang, who gave a farewell speech after the match.
“Wise people say: 'Real men never cry, but their hearts bleed.' Tonight, please allow me to be a real man; I will not say much, it’s enough that my heart bleeds,” Bambang said as quoted by kompas.com.
“I want to say thanks to all of the Persija Jakarta team for this season’s extraordinary struggle that demanded emotion, energy and patience."
He expressed gratitude to Persija Jakarta's directors and the Jakarta administration, as well as Persija Jakarta's fans who, he said, supported him throughout his career on the Jakarta soccer team.
“Here [in Persija], I’ve experienced being the best player. I’ve reached the top score and I’ve become a champion,” he said. “However, here I’ve also got my leg broken, I’ve got depressed and I’ve once been perceived as a traitor here.
“But with everything that I’ve been through, all of you still stand behind me. For that I want to express my deepest gratitude from deep inside my heart.”
Born on June 10, 1980, Bambang was considered one of Indonesia’s most outstanding strikers. He mostly played for Persija Jakarta and the Indonesia national soccer team.
He was the club’s top goalscorer in 1999 and 2000 in Liga Indonesia with 24 goals. In 2001, Bambang helped Persija win Liga Indonesia and was awarded the accolade of being the season’s best player.
In 2005, Bambang accepted an offer to play in the Malaysian Football League with Selangor FA. In his first season in Malaysia he won the Premier League Malaysia, the FA Cup Malaysia and the Malaysia Cup and became the league's top-scorer with 23 goals in 24 matches. Bambang was considered one of top 10 Asian players of 2012 by ESPN Soccernet.
Bambang is also known to be an active advocate for athlete welfare and rights. (gis)
