Commonly called the ‘Black Pearls’ Persi Pura are the current champions of the ISL representing the West Papua Province of the Republic of Indonesia.
The professional league includes provincial representative franchise teams throughout Indonesia from West Sumatera, East and West Java, South and East Kalimantan, Jakarta, Papua and West Papua.
Finally after several decades of interest with PNG’s closest neighbours from the former Dutch colonial city of ‘Hollandia’, is now set to unearth a partnership that has promising prospects towards enhancing bilateral ties in more ways than one could think of.
This has come off the back of a historical memorandum of understanding (MoU) signing between the PNG Football Association (PNGFA) and the Football Association of Indonesia (Persatuan Sepakbola Seluruh Indonesia).
Whilst the MoU signing between Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) and PNGFA president David Chung and his Indonesian counterpart Arafin Husin Djohar on November 20 in Jakarta at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium has opened a new development pathway for both countries to benefit, it has also attracted the trimmings.
This has come in the form of the Persi Pura FC.
Persi Pura has a long history dating back to 1950, and in recent times has elevated its profile with two appearances at the Asia Football Confederation (AFC) champions league in 2010 and 2012 after winning the ISL in 2008/09, 2010,11 and 2012/13.
Chung, who also carries the weight of one of six world confederation FIFA joint vice-president’s says the initiative to look outside our region is part of OFC’s vision to strengthen the member association’s pathway to neighbouring confederations.
“I have played my part at the political level to open this pathway and already I’m happy to say that this move has picked up a potential big bonus along the way from the champion Indonesian club,” Chung said.
Following the MoU signing Djohar took the opportunity to introduce Chung to Persi Pura team manager Rudi Maswi and whilst only verbal interest was made to play friendly matches, it is envisioned to be strengthened over the coming months.
“They wanted to play us before the end of the year, but I said that was too close for PNGFA to organise,” he said.
“However it will be good for our national team’s preparation for the 2015 Pacific Games if we tie down something for next year either in Jayapura or in Port Moresby or Lae,” Chung said.
By John PANGKATANA