Persiraja Banda Aceh

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, PSL, 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. One most tragic incident occurred in 2014, when 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 been coolen down. In addition, Persiraja also have a rivalry with another Aceh club, PSBL Langsa.

Apart from that, Persiraja also has a long history of rivalry with PSMS Medan which has been going on since the Perserikatan era. Their matches are always tough and tense, However, there is rarely or never a big riot between the two teams' supporters outside the field or it spills over into other problems. This is one of the most important rivalries that 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 not knowing where they had gone. Finally, ahead of the new season, Persiraja got another moral injection with the presence of 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

Players

Current squad

Other players under contract

Out on loan

Club officials

Stadium

Main article: H. Dimurthala Stadium, Harapan Bangsa 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

;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

References

1. "Mantan Gelandang Persija Jakarta Gabung Persiraja".
2. "Profil Tim Persiraja Banda Aceh di Liga 1 2021, Harimau Banda akan Datangkan 4 Pemain Asing".
3. "Persiraja Banda Aceh Dilaunching".
4. "Persiraja Banda Aceh sah kembali ke tangan Nazaruddin Dek Gam, berdamai dengan Zulfikar SBY".
5. (31 March 2010). "Ricuh, Laga Persiraja Kontra PSAP Dihentikan".
6. (22 January 2011). "Pemain Persiraja dengan PSAP Sigli Adu Jotos".
7. (20 May 2014). "Indonesian footballer Akli Fairuz dies after horror tackle".
8. "Terkait Meninggalnya Akli Fairuz, Kiper PSAP Diskors Setahun".
9. "Derby Aceh Ricuh".
10. "Miris! Sepak Bola Indonesia Kembali Ricuh, Ini Videonya".
11. Karami, Luzman R.. (19 November 2023). "Persiraja Banda Aceh Vs PSMS Medan Rusuh, Suporter Lempar Botol ke Pemain".
12. Hermawan, Doni. (27 September 2023). "Video Pemain PSMS Sikut Pemain Persiraja Viral, Ini Kata Pelatih".
13. Ibrahim, Khalfan. (2023-10-29). "Rivalitas Persiraja dan PSMS Medan Makin Seru di Putaran Kedua Liga 2, Main di Banda Aceh".
14. "PROFIL Divisi Utama Liga Indonesia 2009/10: Persiraja Banda Aceh".
15. "SKULL Ajak Warga Dukung Persiraja".
16. (23 April 2017). "Sambut Liga 2, Skull Tampil dengan Logo Baru".
17. "SKULL Puji Persiapan Persiraja Musim Ini, Optimis Mampu Tembus Liga 1".
18. (30 March 2010). "Kenapa Ribut Sesama Aceh…?".
19. "SKULL dan The LAN Makin Mesra".
20. "Suporter Persiraja Bertambah".
21. "APBD Boleh Biayai Kegiatan Olahraga, Tidak untuk Klub Profesional".
22. "Persiraja Banda Aceh Tawarkan Saham".
23. "Dek Gam Siap Beli Saham Persiraja".
24. (22 August 2022). "BREAKING NEWS: Dek Gam Resmi Lepas Persiraja Ke Zulfikar".
25. "Ranking Persiraja Banda Aceh, Ranking and Statistics".
26. "Squad Persiraja Banda Aceh".
27. (8 January 2020). "Demi Bermarkas di Stadion Harapan Bangsa, Persiraja Siap Kebut Renovasi".
28. (9 January 2024). "Resmi, Persiraja Gunakan Stadion Langsa di Babak 12 Besar".
29. (29 May 2018). "Dari Aceh sampai Papua, dari Langsa hingga Singkil".
30. "Sepakbola Aceh dari Dimirthala ke Adly Calok".
31. "Persiraja Gandeng MBB Apparel untuk Arungi Liga 1 2020".
32. "Jersey resmi Persiraja tahun 2020 mohon dukungan dan doa dari masyarakat aceh".
33. "Profil Klub Persiraja Banda Aceh".
34. "Persiraja Banda Aceh vs Semen Padang".
35. "Indonesia 2007".
36. "PT untuk Kejayaan Persiraja".
37. "persiba bantul juara divisi utama liga indonesia 2010–11".