Krishna Sadhana
Football Tribe SEA Editor
In the aftermath of Persib Bandung’s 5-2 win over PSM Makassar in the final matchweek of the 2019 Liga 1 season at the Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Soreang, Bandung Regency last night, the Persib management held a farewell ceremony for a loyal servant of the club who will bid the Maung Bandung farewell once the 2019 season ends. Midfielder Hariono is set to leave Persib after 8 years with the club, having joined Persib in 2008. Joining Maung Bandung from Deltras Sidoarjo, Hariono stuck with Persib through thick and thin, guiding the West Javan club to the 2014 Liga Super Indonesia and 2015 Indonesia President’s Cup titles. Throughout his 8 years with Persib, Hariono has clocked up around 235 appearances, with two goals to his name.
Fittingly, the last of those two goals was scored during last night’s rout of PSM. With Chad international Ezechiel N’Douassel stealing the headlines with his four goals on the night, Hariono was given the honor to execute a penalty kick in the 67th minute after Febri Hariyadi was fouled in the area. The Persib vice-captain made no mistake from the spot and capped off his final bow for Maung Bandung with a goal.
Although Hariono has expressed his desire to stay with Persib and retire at the club, Persib head coach Robert Alberts had other plans. The Dutch tactician intends to rejuvenate the Persib squad and at 34 years of age, Hariono isn’t exactly the youthful midfield general that Robert is looking for in his squad for the next season. However Persib has respected Hariono’s wish to retire at the club and because of that, the Persib management has decided to temporarily retire Hariono’s shirt number, 24. No other player shall wear the number 24 shirt at Persib until Hariono’s return to the club, with Persib letting the door open for their longtime servant should he wish to return to the Si Jalak Harupat for his retirement.
This decision meant that Persib will become the fourth club in Indonesia to retire a shirt number. Previously, Persebaya Surabaya, Persija Jakarta and Persela Lamongan had retired squad numbers for various reasons. Persebaya retired the number 19 shirt to honor the late Eri Irianto, who died of a heart attack on the pitch in 2000. Persela also retired their number 1 shirt for a similar reason, to honor their legendary goalkeeper Choirul Huda who died after colliding with his teammate during a Liga 1 match in 2017. Persija, on the other hand, retired their number 12 shirt for a different reason. No Macan Kemayoran player has worn the number 12 shirt due to the number being reserved for the Jakmania, the passionate supporters group of Persija, or in other words, their “twelfth man.”
Hariono won’t be the only Persib player bidding farewell to the club at the conclusion of the 2019 season. Persib’s Dutch attacking midfielder, Kevin van Kippersluis, will also leave the Maung Bandung after the Persib management decided against extending the 26-year old’s short term contract.