Persija Jakarta played to a 1-1 draw against Dewa United in a delayed Super League 2025/26 fixture at the Jakarta International Stadium (JIS) on Sunday, March 15. Following the match, coach Mauricio Souza expressed a profound sense of responsibility and acknowledged the deep disappointment felt by the passionate Jakmania supporters.
Souza emphasized that the squad had put in tremendous effort, but conceded that the absence of several key players significantly hampered “Macan Kemayoran” (The Kemayoran Tigers) throughout the crucial encounter. This immediate impact from missing key personnel posed a formidable challenge for the team.
During the post-match press conference, Souza detailed the lineup struggles: “Today we didn’t have Alaaeddine, we didn’t have Allano, we didn’t have Mauro, and we didn’t have Paulo. Furthermore, this was Jean’s very first match as a starter for the team.”
He continued, connecting with the fanbase’s sentiment: “So we feel the frustration of the fans; their frustration is also our frustration. We work incredibly hard every day, training under the scorching sun and in the pouring rain. I often go home at 1 AM, all to bring joy to everyone. We will fight until the very end.”
Despite this commitment, a significant portion of Jakmania has grown weary of Persija’s inconsistent performances this season. However, the Brazilian coach affirmed his resolve not to be swayed by external noise or allow it to preoccupy his focus.
Souza defiantly stated, “We don’t pay attention to what’s said on social media. I cannot control what you say; I control what I do. And I challenge you to pick any match where the opponent was genuinely better than us. Then, we can discuss strategy.”
Meanwhile, in another crucial league encounter, Persib Bandung was also held to a 1-1 draw by Borneo FC at Stadion Segiri. This outcome shapes the provisional Super League standings after all teams have played 25 matches: Persib comfortably remains at the top with 58 points, closely followed by Borneo FC in second place with 54 points. Persija currently occupies the third spot with 52 points, while Dewa United sits in ninth position with 34 points.
Summary
Persija Jakarta bermain imbang 1-1 melawan Dewa United dalam pertandingan Liga Super 2025/26 yang tertunda, mendorong pelatih Mauricio Souza untuk mengakui frustrasi mendalam Jakmania. Souza menjelaskan bahwa performa tim sangat terhambat oleh absennya beberapa pemain kunci seperti Alaaeddine, Allano, Mauro, dan Paulo. Ia menekankan kerja kerasnya dan tim, menyatakan bahwa kekecewaan penggemar adalah juga kekecewaan mereka.
Meskipun seri dan adanya rasa lelah di kalangan penggemar, Souza menegaskan komitmennya untuk tidak terganggu oleh kritik media sosial, menantang klaim bahwa lawan benar-benar lebih baik. Di pertandingan liga lainnya, Persib Bandung juga bermain imbang 1-1 dengan Borneo FC. Klasemen sementara Liga Super menempatkan Persib di puncak dengan 58 poin, diikuti Borneo FC (54 poin), dan Persija di posisi ketiga dengan 52 poin setelah 25 pertandingan.