Persik Kediri are currently in a very rich vein of form. The Macan Putih, very much struggling through a good chunk of the 2022/23 Liga 1 Indonesia season, are currently unbeaten in their last six games – winning each and every one of them. The additional 18 points successfully lifted Persik from bottom of the league to a stable, mid-table position. Most interestingly, in all six games, Persik wore their third jersey that was introduced late into the season.
Produced by DJ Sport, Persik’s third jersey for the 2022/23 campaign is a sleek-looking article, colored white with purple highlights and lines. It is based on the white tiger, the Macan Putih, with the belief that the jersey would inspire the then-struggling Persik players to never give up and conquer any challenges before them.
Persik debuted their third jersey on February 23rd, in a home game against fellow strugglers RANS Nusantara FC at the Brawijaya Stadium. An early goal from Flavio Silva, goals from Rohit Chand and Renan Silva, and a late brace from Mohammad Khanafi sent Persik to a comprehensive 5-1 win.
Arema FC was up next on February 28th, which sees Persik traveling to the Singo Edan‘s temporary home at the PTIK Stadium in South Jakarta. Persik raced to a 3-0 lead at half-time thanks to goals from Miftahul Hamdi, Silva, and Yohannes Pahabol, and despite Arema scoring two late goals in the second half, Persik held on for all three points.
Persik then went on to beat Barito Putera 2-0 on March 4th in a vital bottom-of-the-table clash, before the Macan Putih produced two stunning results that not only got heads turning, but also could potentially decide the title race for this season’s Liga 1.
Traveling to the Pakansari Stadium in Cibinong, Bogor Regency to take on “hosts” Persib Bandung on March 8th, many would believe that title hopefuls Persib would put an end to Persik’s mini-revival. Said mini-revival would instead transform into a full-blown one, with goals from Hamra Hehanusa and Khanafi sending Persik to a shock 2-0 win, a result that put a spanner on Persib’s title chances.
Four days later it was Persija Jakarta who became Persik’s next victims, with the Macan Kemayoran, bearing faint title hopes of their own, being well-beaten 2-0 at the Brawijaya. Once again, it was Hehanusa and Khanafi scoring the goals that secured all three points for the Macan Putih.
Last but not least, Persik managed to beat another East Java rivals of theirs on March 18th, this time it was Persebaya Surabaya who were beaten 1-0 on the back of a late Silva penalty.
A common denominator in those six matches – other than Persik gaining all three points – were the fact that the Macan Putih were wearing their white third jersey in each and every one of them. This caused fans to start christen Persik’s third jersey as a “lucky charm” and a “talisman.”
Persik captain, Arthur Irawan, had other things to say, however.
“Whatever color of the jersey that we wore, if we didn’t have the spirit to overcome any challenges it would be all for nothing,” said Arthur, as quoted from Bola.com, “The key behind our recent success was merely hard work and a fighting spirit.”
Persik will face Persita Tangerang in their next match at the Brawijaya on March 24th. Only time will tell if Persik would lap up their seventh consecutive win or will Persita be the ones who will stop the Macan Putih‘s rampage. But for now, for Arthur and his boys, they’re taking things one match at a time.