Persatuan Sepakbola Indonesia Kutaraja, commonly known as Persiraja, is an Indonesian professional football club based in Banda Aceh, Aceh. They currently compete in the Championship. They play their home matches either at Harapan Bangsa Stadium or H. Dimurthala Stadium. They became champion of Perserikatan in 1980.
History
Persiraja Banda Aceh was founded as a semi-professional team on 28 July 1957, initiated by PSSI. The name change from previous Persib Banda to its current name is unknown to the public. In the early formation of this club, the club's headquarters are located at Blang Padang Field, before being moved to the H. Dimurthala Stadium in Lampineung. At the beginning, since its inception, there's nothing special from this club. The club is still under the shadow of PSMS Medan who previously was one of the strongest teams in Indonesia. In the effort for finding the talented players, the team is making a Bonden or another term for the academy.
During the period between 1957 until 1974, there was no great achievement to be proud of. Until finally in 1975, Persiraja successfully overcome the shadows of PSMS Medan. In the 1974–75 season of PSSI National Championship western region, Persiraja successfully become champion by beating strongest club from Sumatra. At that time, Persiraja successfully topped the final standings with 11 points and goal difference 31–10 (21). Thus, Persiraja were advance to the national round of 1975–1978 PSSI National Championship with PSMS Medan, PSL Langkat, and PS Bangka. At the beginning of its participation, Persiraja broke through until reached the top 8. Persiraja also began to be known by everyone in the country. In the following season, Persiraja managed to increase their ranking to top 5. Persiraja could have been relegated in 1979, but PSSI did prevented it by adding a team so there were total of six teams. Finally, in 1980, Persiraja successfully become a national champion by beating Persipura Jayapura 3–1 in the final game held in Gelora Senayan Stadium (former name of Gelora Bung Karno Stadium). In the end, Persiraja have to wait for 23 years since 1957 to win the title in the national football arena.
Rivalries Persiraja used to have a rivalry with fellow Aceh club, PSAP Sigli. This rivalry is usually called as the Classic Aceh Derby. Their matches were always in hot atmosphere. In 2014, PSAP Sigli goalkeeper, Agus Rahman, made a harsh tackle on Persiraja striker, Akli Fairuz. Fairuz suffered bladder leakage and, a few days after the match, died from his internal injuries due to that tackle. He received a year suspension given by PSSI. Nowadays, since Persiraja and PSAP Sigli are no longer in the same league level, the rivalry has cooled down. In addition, Persiraja also have a rivalry with another Aceh clubs, such as PSBL Langsa and PSLS Lhokseumawe.
Apart from that, Persiraja also has a long history of rivalry with PSMS Medan which has been going on since the Perserikatan era. Matches have been tense and there have been violent incidents between supporters. The rivalry still continues today.
Supporters Most of spectators in every Persiraja games are not affiliated with any supporter community and go to stadium just to enjoy the game. However, Persiraja have relatively sizeable numbers of fanatic supporter community named SKULL, which was established in 2007. The name is an abbreviation of Suporter Kutaraja Untuk Lantak Laju (en: Kutaraja Supporters for Lantak Laju). They used to have rivalry and conflict with "The LAN" (Laskar Aneuk Nanggroe), which is the supporter community of other Aceh's football club, PSAP Sigli. However the two supporter communities ended the conflict in 2014.
As time went on, there was another group of supporters who supported Persiraja with the concept of "ultras" under the name "Laskar Rencong Mania" and occupied the south stand of H. Dimurthala Stadium. Although they were ultras, the group's colors strangely were orange, just like SKULL's, which generally contrasted with black, the customary color of any football ultras group around the world. But after the season ended and the next season went on, the existence of the supporters group seemed to abruptly vanished. Ahead of the new season, a new supporters group called "Ultras Persiraja" and also occupied the south stand of the stadium. This time the official color of the outfit they were wearing was black, just like any other ultras group.
Ownership Like most Perserikatan clubs, Persiraja had been funded by the local municipality. However, according to new ordinance by Indonesian Minister of Internal Affair in 2017, the local municipalities are no longer allowed to give any fund support to Indonesian professional clubs, which means for all clubs in Liga 1 and Liga 2, including Persiraja. Therefore, in March 2017, the management of Persiraja established a private company. Nazaruddin, a local businessman, bought most shares, forming PT Persiraja Lantak Laju, and became the club's president.
On 22 August 2022, Nazzarudin Dek Gam has resigned from his position as president club and his position was given to Zulfikar Syahabuddin who is one of the local businessmen who is active in religious activities such as congregational dawn safaris and as a lecturer.
Ahead of the next season's Liga 2, Nazaruddin Dek Gam took back ownership of the club from the previous management after experiencing unsatisfactory results in the previous season.
Club ranking World
Current rank Country Club Points 2915 OFK Gradina 1196 2916 WA Tlemcen 1196 2917 Persiraja Banda Aceh 1195 2918 Caersws 1195 2919 Sahab SC 1195
AFC
Current rank Country Club Points 399 Dubai CSC 1197 400 Al Orooba 1196 401 Persiraja Banda Aceh 1195 402 Sahab SC 1195 403 That Ras SC 1194
Players Current squad
Other players under contract
Out on loan
Club officials PositionName President Club Nazaruddin Dek Gam General Secretary Rahmat Djailani Team Manager Ridha Mafdhul Assistant Team Manager Tarmizi Rasyid CEO Marwan COO Rijalul Farisan Head coach Jaya HartonoAssistant Coaches Akhyar Ilyas Wahyu AW Ferry Ferdinand Goalkeeper Coach Muhammad Yasir Physical Coach Septi Hariansyah Team Doctor Rizki Maulana Physiotherapist Rifyal Fathany Analyst Munanda Faisal Kit Man Dedi Chandra Media Officer Ariful Usman
Stadium
Persiraja currently plays their home matches at H. Dimurthala Stadium in Banda Aceh. As Persib Banda (not to be confused with Persib Bandung), Persiraja first played at the Blang Padang Football Field in , . They also played some selected matches at Harapan Bangsa Stadium in .
After securing promotion to 2020 Liga 1, Persiraja decided to move their home ground to Harapan Bangsa Stadium which had better facilities because the H. Dimurthala Stadium's facilities are not adequate to meet PSSI standard for Liga 1 matches.
Persiraja temporarily based themself at the Langsa Stadium in Langsa during the 2023–24 Liga 2's championship round in early of 2024, due to both H. Dimurthala Stadium and Harapan Bangsa Stadium were chosen by the government through Ministry of Public Works (then the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing) to be fully renovated and meet the FIFA standard after Aceh along with North Sumatra was chosen to host the 2024 Pekan Olahraga Nasional.
Jersey and sponsors The colour of team home jersey for ground player is orange, which refers to the colour of club's logo. For the 2020 Liga 1, MBB is the kit supplier for Persiraja, whilst the sponsors on jersey are Dek Gam Fondation, Bank Aceh, Lion Parcel, Extra Joss, PDAM Tirta Daroy and The Atjeh Connection.
Past seasons The following table is Persiraja achievement in Indonesian league system since Liga Indonesia era Season Div. Tie. Final position Piala Indonesia League Cup1994–95Premier Division16th in West Zone First Roundnot heldnot held1995–967th in West Zone First Round1996–973rd in Group A Second Round1997–983rd in West Zone First Round (competition did not finish)1998–99Relegation Play-off1999–207th place in West Zone First Round200112th place in West Zone First Round (Relegated)2002First Division26th place in Second Round20035th place in Second Round20048th place in West Zone2005First RoundDid not participate20062nd place in Second Round (Promoted) 1st Round2007–08Premier Division117th in West Zone First Round (Relegated)1st Round2008–0926th in Group I First Round1st Round2009–107th in Group I First Rounddid not participate2010–11Runner-up (Promoted)not held2011–12IPL17th3rd Round20135th in Group L Relegation Play-off Round (Relegated)not held2014Premier Division26th in Group 1 First Round2015Competition did not finish2016ISC B4th in Group A Second Round2017Liga 21st in Group E Relegation Play-off Round20183rd in Group B Second Round1st Round20193rd Place (Promoted)2020Liga 117th (competition did not finish)not held2021–2218th (Relegated)2022–23Liga 22 (competition did not finish)2023–24 4th Place2024–25 3rd in Group X Championship Round2025–26Championship5th in Group 12026–27TBDTBD
Key Div. = Name of Division Played Tie. = Tier level in Indonesian league pyramid at the time of competition
Notes From 1994–95 to 2007–08, Liga Indonesia Premier Division (not to be confused with Indonesian Premier League or IPL) was the first-tier league in Indonesian league pyramid, before became the second-tier league (present day: Liga 2). In 2008, Indonesian Super League replaced it as the first-tier league in Indonesian league pyramid. Indonesian Premier League (IPL) was a fully professional football competition as the shared top tier of the football league pyramid in Indonesia with the Indonesia Super League within 2011–2013 before the two leagues merged for the 2014 season. The 2016 ISC B was a football competition that replaced the temporarily suspended LI Premier Division. Persiraja should be relegated this season, but had dispensation due to 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake 2007–08 was the last season of Liga Indonesia Premier Division played as first-tier league. Only 20 out of 38 clubs were then qualified to 2008–09 Indonesia Super League. The rest 18 clubs were considered relegated and then played in 2008–09 Liga Indonesia Premier Division as the second-tier league. Since PSSI started Piala Indonesia as the professional cup competition in 2005, the competition has not been held in annual basis.
Honours Perserikatan Winners (1): 1980 Liga Indonesia Premier Division/Liga 2 Runners-up (1): 2010–11 Third place (1): 2019
References
External links