When David Glenn took over Putra Delta Sidoarjo and relocated the club to Ternate, North Maluku, in 2023, his vision was to build a team that showcased the best talents from Maluku and North Maluku, nurturing future stars while challenging the established powers of Indonesian football. What he didn’t anticipate, however, was how quickly that ambition would begin to materialize.
Founded in 2023, Maluku Utara United—better known as Malut United—earned promotion to Liga 1 after winning the 2023/24 Liga 2 Indonesia promotion play-offs. After a steady, if unspectacular, start to their debut top-flight season, the club’s fortunes took a dramatic turn once they finally moved into the renovated Gelora Kie Raha Stadium in Ternate, having previously played their “home” matches away from the region.
The move sparked a resurgence, culminating in a remarkable 12-match unbeaten run that remains intact to this day, propelling the Laskar Kie Raha to a strong fourth place in the Liga 1 standings.
While catching runaway leaders Persib Bandung—on course for a second consecutive Liga 1 title—appears out of reach, Malut United’s aspirations of qualifying for the 2025/26 AFC Challenge League, and potentially the 2025/26 ASEAN Club Championship, remain well within sight.
All of this has been achieved under the guidance of inaugural head coach Imran Nahumarury, the man who masterminded their promotion from Liga 2 and now stands as the only local head coach left in the Liga 1.
The provinces of Maluku and North Maluku, located within the Moluccan archipelago in Eastern Indonesia, have long been regarded as a hotbed of footballing talent. Many of Indonesia’s notable footballers hail from Moluccan heritage, including Ramdani Lestaluhu, Manahati Lestusen, Hasyim Kipuw, and Alfin Tuasalamony, among others. The region’s influence extends beyond Indonesia as well, with several prominent Dutch players of Moluccan descent—such as Ruud Gullit, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Nigel de Jong, Kevin Diks, and the Reijnders brothers, Tijani and Eliano—making their mark on the global stage.
However, up until the early 2000s, the Moluccas region was rocked by sectarian violence, marked by ethnic and religious tensions between Muslim and Christian communities.
Despite the unrest, the spirit of football remained unbroken. In 2006, the Maluku U-15 team captured the national youth championship, led by the late, legendary Sani Tawainella and featuring future stars such as Alfin, Rizky Pellu, Finky Pasamba, and Hendra Bayauw. Their triumph came at a time when tensions still simmered beneath the surface, but the team’s unlikely success—defeating favored opponents despite being labeled as heavy underdogs—offered a rare and powerful symbol of unity. Muslims and Christians alike rallied behind the young team, inspired by their resilience and shared pride.
The inspiring story was later adapted into the 2014 film Cahaya dari Timur: Beta Maluku (Lights from the East: We Are Moluccans), produced by the late Moluccan music legend Glenn Fredly. Actor Chicco Jerikho, despite not having Moluccan heritage, delivered a powerful and heartfelt portrayal of Sani, capturing the spirit and resilience of the iconic figure with remarkable authenticity.
Despite football becoming a powerful unifying force in the once-fractured Moluccan Islands, the lack of proper infrastructure and investment meant that clubs from Maluku and North Maluku rarely featured in the top two tiers of Indonesian football. Even when these clubs managed to qualify for national championships at the amateur level, they often struggled to gather enough funds to participate. Yet, despite these persistent setbacks, the Moluccan region has continued to produce talented footballers on a regular basis—thanks largely to the tireless efforts of Sani and other like-minded individuals committed to nurturing the sport at the grassroots level. The village of Tulehu, located in the regency of Maluku Tengah, has become particularly renowned for consistently producing some of Indonesia’s finest footballing talents.
It was these concerns over the lack of proper infrastructure and investment that weighed heavily on David’s mind when he set out to establish Malut United.
Backed by deep pockets fueled by profits from the nickel industry, David sought to build a club that would properly foster, nurture, and promote Moluccan talents into future superstars. As luck would have it, Liga 2 club Putra Delta Sidoarjo were struggling financially and lacked strong support—presenting David with the perfect opportunity to bring his vision to life.
Putra Delta Sidoarjo themselves were a club in desperate need of salvation. Their association with notorious match-fixer Vigit Waluyo had turned them into a pariah within Indonesian football circles, drawing widespread derision from fans. Compounding their woes, the Sidoarjo public’s unwavering loyalty to city rivals Deltras Sidoarjo left Putra Delta without a true home. In fact, for the 2022/23 Liga 2 season, the club was forced to stage its home matches in Blitar—some 163 kilometers away from their supposed base.
The Kanjuruhan Tragedy—and the subsequent abolishment of the 2022/23 Liga 2 season that followed—proved to be the final nail in the coffin for Putra Delta Sidoarjo.
Seizing the opportunity, David purchased Putra Delta’s Liga 2 license and relocated the club’s assets to Ternate. While he initially envisioned Malut United being based in the North Maluku capital of Sofifi, the city’s limited size and infrastructure meant that Ternate, with its better facilities and larger population, would serve as the club’s home for the foreseeable future.
Recognizing that a team built on the best Moluccan talents needed someone who truly understood the region, David appointed Imran Nahumarury as Malut United’s inaugural head coach. Imran’s track record with young players was undeniable—he was the man responsible for giving stars like Finky, Pratama Arhan, Andreas Ado, and Alfreandra Dewangga their big breaks at PSIS Semarang. Without him, Pratama’s iconic long throws and his potential as a left-back might have remained untapped.
Imran wasted no time after being appointed, immediately going to work assembling a squad that would showcase the best talent the Moluccas had to offer. He brought in familiar faces like Finky, Hendra, Ridwan Tawainella, Ilham Udin Armaiyn, Alwi Slamat, Saddam Hi Tenang, and Irsan Lestaluhu. On loan, he secured Rifal Lastori and Frets Butuan. To strengthen the squad, Imran also added players he had worked with before at PSIS: Andreas Ado, Joko Ribowo, Ray Redondo, Rio Saputro, and Mahesa Jenar legend Hari Nur Yulianto, with Wawan Febrianto also joining on loan. Other notable signings included Bagus Nirwanto, Dave Mustaine, and Aditya Putra Dewa.
With the 2023/24 season marking the first time Liga 2 clubs were allowed to field foreign players, Imran faced some trial and error with his international signings. Ghana’s Derrick Sasraku and Uzbekistan’s Mukhammad Isaev proved to be misfires, while South Korea’s Jeong Ho-min was an acceptable addition. However, it was the signing of Brazilian striker Jose Wilkson, formerly of Persebaya Surabaya, that truly made a difference. Wilkson’s key goals in the second half of the season played a pivotal role as Malut United secured promotion by defeating Persiraja Banda Aceh in the promotion play-off, earning their place in Liga 1 in their very first season.
Malut United’s rise can also be credited to technical director Yeyen Tumena, a fellow Moluccan and former Bhayangkara FC official. His expertise and insight were crucial in helping Imran bring together the right players for his ambitious project.
For their maiden season in Liga 1, the partnership between Yeyen and Imran sprang into action once again. Most of the key players from the previous season were retained, with Rifal and Frets’ loan contracts made permanent. However, several notable departures followed: Finky, Andreas, Dave, and Wilkson all moved on, while Joko and Aditya transitioned into roles within the Malut United management team, ending their playing careers.
New signings bolstered the squad, with long-serving Persikabo 1973 captain Manahati Lestaluhu joining after his club’s relegation. PSIS Semarang was once again a key source, with Fredyan Wahyu and Wahyu Prasetyo making the switch to Ternate. But perhaps the most high-profile moves came when Malut United raided PSM Makassar, acquiring Liga 1-winning players Safrudin Tahar and the Sayuri brothers, Yance and Yakob. The signing of Yakob Sayuri, in particular, generated significant buzz. The talented winger, who had been courted by many of Indonesia’s top clubs, opted to join a team making its Liga 1 debut, and one that had been founded only recently.
As for their foreign contingent, Yeyen and Imran made several acquisitions, most of whom had yet to play in Indonesia, with mixed results. The signings of Diego “Chino” Martinez (Paraguay), Wbeymar Angulo (Armenia), and Adriano Castanheira (Portugal) proved to be successes, adding depth and skill to the squad. Brazilian defender Cassio Scheid, while delivering solid performances, ultimately left the club due to challenges finding proper medical care and international schools in Ternate for his family. The departure of Argentinian winger Jorge Correa raised eyebrows, particularly given his solid contribution of four goals and two assists from 17 appearances. Meanwhile, the signings of Victor Mansaray (USA) and Tatsuhiro Nagamatsu (Japan) were largely forgettable, failing to make a lasting impact.
In place of the departing quartet, Malut United made strategic signings, bringing in players with valuable experience in Southeast Asian leagues. Brazilian striker Junior Brandao returned to Indonesia after a successful stint with Madura United and Bhayangkara, while veteran Haitian attacker Sony Norde was brought in from cash-strapped Kedah Darul Aman in Malaysia. Former PSS Sleman and Borneo FC Samarinda fan favorite Jonathan Bustos made his return to Indonesia following a brief spell with Iraqi giants Al Quwa Al Jawiya. Spanish defender Chechu Martines joined from fellow Liga 1 side Barito Putera. The loan signing of Madura United goalkeeper Dida initially raised doubts, as his time with Laskar Sapeh Kerrab was marred by inconsistent performances. However, he managed to bounce back, earning the starting goalkeeper spot at Malut United.
Under Imran Nahumarury, Malut United has exceeded expectations and shown that their status as Liga 1 newcomers was never going to limit their potential. After the turn of the year, the team delivered a series of impressive performances that defied their underdog status. High-flying Persebaya were humbled with a 2-0 victory away in Surabaya, while Borneo FC was left reeling after a 3-0 thrashing in Ternate. Bali United was held to a 1-1 draw in Gianyar, before both Arema FC and Persita Tangerang suffered 2-1 defeats in Ternate. Yakob Sayuri then made history on April 12th, scoring Liga 1’s fastest-ever hat-trick in just eight minutes, leading Malut United to a 3-1 win against relegation-threatened Persis Solo.
On April 25th, the team delivered their best performance yet, taking on fellow dark horses Dewa United at the Pakansari Stadium in Cibinong. While Dewa United’s star-studded squad, including national team players like Egy Maulana Vikri and Ricky Kambuaya, was built for instant success, Malut United’s growth has been steady and remarkable. Despite trailing 1-0 at halftime due to a stunning goal by Egy, the team mounted a stunning comeback, with Yakob and Chechu scoring to secure a 2-1 win, a result that solidified their place in the top four and likely ended Dewa United’s title aspirations.
With matches still to come against Persib, PSM Makassar, and Persija Jakarta, Malut United will continue to face significant challenges. However, if they maintain the form that has driven their 12-match unbeaten streak, it’s highly probable that the Laskar Kie Raha will qualify for international competitions in just their third year of existence. Their rise has been nothing short of extraordinary, and the future looks incredibly bright for the club.