Indonesia foreign stars struggle to make mark
Cole and Essien struggle in new league
When it comes to talk of sleeping giants in football, China and India may hog the headlines but Indonesia has underachieved more than most. This year’s Liga One season is the first official domestic league season in Indonesia since 2014, a gap of three years during which political infighting, interference, corruption – which involved the FA’s chief spending time in prison on corruption charges and still being allowed to hold office – rebel leagues, rebel federations and rebel national teams all came to a head. In 2015 even the previously indifferent and indulgent FIFA stepped in to impose a ban that would last for 12 months.
The build-up to the 2017 season was, therefore, filled with excitement – which was only heightened when a number of clubs went shopping for highprofile foreign imports such as Michael Essien, Carlton Cole, Peter Odemwingie, Didier Zokora and Mohamed Sissoko.
Indonesia loves its football and many league games are not for the faint-hearted as it is a vibrant, if sometimes violent, competition. Much is demanded of imported players and they are not given too much time to adapt. The stars are expected to show they are better than the locals almost immediately.
Carlton Cole never did and he now appears to be on his way out at Persib Bandung after just 105 minutes of action in his club’s first eight games. In the ex-England striker’s rare appearances he looked unfit – the club hinted that he had arrived with an injury – and he has been unable to make his mark in the side. The former West Ham United man was starved of service and team manager Umuh Muchtar said in May that playing with Cole was akin to playing with 10 men. That was the writing on the wall as imported foreign players in much of Southeast Asia are often shipped out at a moment’s notice. There is little chance of spending two years sat on a picturesque West Javan bench.
Essien arrived at Persib Bandung a few days before Cole in April, and the former Real Madrid and Chelsea midfielder was something of a strange choice as a marquee player, as he is not the kind of performer to run past four defenders and curl an unstoppable shot into the top corner. He has been in and out of the team, and in the first eight games of the season he started just twice.
In patches, Essien has looked good but has not yet
League games are not for the faint-hearted as it is a vibrant, if sometimes violent, competition
stamped his authority on any game. In a May clash with Borneo, he upset Umuh by not allowing the team’s designated penalty taker to do his job. Missing by some distance did not go down well, especially when the opposition equalised in the last minute.
Coach Djadjang Nurdjaman, under pressure for a conservative style of play despite a start of seven games without loss, says Cole and Essien were struggling to sleep and adapt to the local climate.
Persib are a big club with average crowds over 20,000 and passionate fans who demand the same from the players. Supporters are more excited about up-and-coming youngsters such as Billy Keraf than ageing imports, whose departure, especially in Cole’s case, would not be much noticed.
While Cole looks to be gone and Essien’s future is in the balance, Odemwingie’s situation at Madura United could not be more different. The former Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion forward scored five goals in his first six games. Unlike the static Cole, who has been waiting in the area for crosses that never came, Odemwingie has popped up all over the pitch to create more than he has scored and the ex-Nigeria international is clearly enjoying himself.
Former Liverpool, Juventus and Paris SaintGermain midfielder Sissoko has settled in well, going quietly about his business in relatively sleepy East Borneo with Mitra Kukar, and has been under the radar a little. There are, however, some concerns starting to be expressed about Zokora.
Signed by Semen Padang, the former Tottenham Hotspur and Sevilla midfielder has yet to make much of an impact. There have been questions asked over his fitness, work-rate and influence. It has not helped that since his arrival, the club’s good early season form quickly faded.
The foreign imports are a mixed bag, but then so is this sprawling archipelago. Indonesia may underachieve on the international stage but it is showing that it is no comfortable retirement home for aging football stars.