Persib Bandung has long stood as West Java’s premier football club, representing not just Greater Bandung but the pride, culture, and identity of the entire province. The Maung Bandung are deeply embedded in the daily lives of West Javans, with loyal supporters spanning from Bekasi and Cirebon to Pangandaran and Banjar. This widespread devotion, however, comes with a downside. Persib’s dominance has made it difficult for other West Javanese clubs to establish their own identity, often leaving them in the shadows of a team that has become a symbol of collective provincial pride.
In late May, West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi confronted a group of Persikas Subang supporters who disrupted a public forum in Subang Regency. The event, intended to address infrastructure development and poverty reduction, was derailed when the supporters unfurled banners and chanted club slogans, prompting an angry response from the governor.
The Persikas supporters crashed Governor Dedi’s forum to protest rumors of a takeover by South Sumatra Vice Governor Cik Ujang. If the takeover proceeds, Persikas would be relocated to South Sumatra and rebranded as Sumsel United—effectively erasing the club’s identity and presence in Indonesian football.
The proposed takeover was prompted by Persikas’ financial struggles during the 2024/25 Liga 2 season, including unpaid player wages. While Cik Ujang’s involvement could stabilize the club’s finances, it comes at a steep cost—the loss of Persikas’ identity and roots in West Java.
Persikas’ plight was one of many issues faced by West Javan football clubs in recent years.
While Persib enjoyed widespread support from both the people of West Java and corporate sponsors, many of their provincial rivals struggled to secure the resources needed to survive each season—despite receiving some backing from their local communities.
In 2022, PSGC Ciamis—newly relegated to the lowest tier of Indonesian football—struggled to attract sponsorships. While they managed to pay their players, club management had to work hard to secure funding, as potential sponsors were hesitant due to PSGC’s small yet modest fanbase, which offered limited brand exposure.
That same year, PSKC Cimahi failed to pay their players during the Liga 2 season. The Kanjuruhan Stadium tragedy provided the club’s management with a convenient justification to support a proposal to cancel the remainder of the season—a proposal that was ultimately approved.
PSKC eventually underwent a change in ownership that helped stabilize the Laskar Sangkuriang’s finances. However, the club’s former owners—allegedly tied to a controversial, government-backed mass organization—resurfaced in the 2024/25 season with their new clubs, Persikab Kabupaten Bandung and PS Cimahi Putra, bringing their old ways with them.
Competing in the newly-formed Liga Nusantara, Indonesia’s third-tier league, Persikab endured the season without paying their players, leaving them to cover their own accommodation and meals—expenses that should have been the club’s responsibility.
Cimahi Putra faced even harsher challenges. Despite winning the 2024/25 Liga 4 West Java Series 1 and earning a spot in the national phase, the club withdrew last-minute. Players, unpaid throughout their title-winning regional campaign, staged a mass boycott that prevented the team from traveling to the national tournament venue.
Persipasi Kota Bekasi also faced severe cutbacks during the 2024/25 season, resulting in their relegation to Liga 4. Similarly, PSGJ Cirebon was forced to withdraw from the Liga 4 Series 1 due to financial hardships, a fate mirrored by fellow Series 1 club Depok City. PSB Bogor’s 2024/25 campaign was marred by unpaid wages, further underscoring the systemic financial instability plaguing West Java’s lower-tier football clubs.
Perhaps the most tragic case was that of Persikabo 1973. Following a turbulent 2024/25 season marked by unpaid salaries, a mass player exodus, and a hastily assembled starting lineup composed mainly of free agents and former players, Persikabo suffered a second consecutive relegation—dropping from Liga 2 to Liga Nusantara. This collapse can be traced back to the 2023/24 season when the club’s main sponsor, a betting website, was banned nationwide, triggering a financial crisis from which the club has yet to recover.
The struggles of these clubs highlight a growing disparity within West Java football: a vibrant, well-supported Persib Bandung towers over a landscape where many smaller clubs battle financial uncertainty, identity crises, and operational instability. Without structural reforms, sustainable funding models, and stronger governance, the survival of these clubs—and by extension, the diversity and competitiveness of West Java’s football scene—remains in jeopardy.
As the 2025/26 season approaches, stakeholders from across the province face an urgent challenge: to preserve the rich tapestry of West Java football beyond Persib’s shadow. Only through concerted efforts to support grassroots development, foster community engagement, and ensure financial transparency can these clubs hope to reclaim their place in Indonesia’s footballing future.