Malut United will be hoping that lightning strikes twice as they usher in the 2025/26 Super League season under new head coach Hendri Susilo—an appointment that many have labelled as “uninspiring.”
The Laskar Kie Raha had taken Indonesian football by storm in the 2024/25 season, finishing an astounding third in Liga 1 in their debut top-flight campaign. This remarkable feat came under the guidance of Imran Nahumarury, an underrated tactician and the last Indonesian head coach standing by season’s end.
However, a financial misconduct scandal rocked the club soon after, implicating both Imran and technical director Yeyen Tumena. Found guilty of misappropriating club and agent funds, both men were promptly dismissed—sending shockwaves through a fanbase still basking in their team’s rapid ascent since its founding in 2023.
With their key architects gone, fears of a dreaded second-season syndrome began to loom large, especially as Malut United performed a mass squad overhaul. Fan favorites such as Wahyu Prasetyo, Diego “Chino” Martinez, and Adriano Castanheira exited the club. But those fears were eased somewhat following the arrival of high-profile reinforcements: Septian David Maulana and Riyan Ardiansyah from relegated PSIS Semarang, goalkeeper Angga Saputro from Borneo FC Samarinda, PSS Sleman duo Alan Bernardon and Vico Duarte, and a formidable quartet from Liga 1 champions Persib Bandung—Ciro Alves, Gustavo Franca, Tyronne del Pino, and David da Silva. Several core players including Yakob Sayuri, Yance Sayuri, Safrudin Tahar, Manahati Lestusen, and Frets Butuan also chose to stay, reinforcing continuity.
These additions revived optimism among supporters, with the winning mentality brought by Ciro, Gustavo, Tyronne, and David signaling that Malut United could well emerge as genuine title contenders in 2025/26.
That excitement, however, was somewhat muted by the club’s appointment of Hendri Susilo—a move that raised eyebrows across the fanbase.
Hendri is no stranger to Indonesian football, particularly on the island of Sumatra. He guided Persiraja Banda Aceh to Liga 1 promotion in 2019 and almost led Sriwijaya FC to the 2023/24 Liga 2 promotion play-offs before an administrative error cost the club crucial points. Despite the setback, he steered Sriwijaya to safety from relegation. His recent spell at Semen Padang in the 2024/25 Liga 1 was less successful, ending abruptly after three defeats in four games. Hendri returned to Sriwijaya in crisis mode and once again delivered survival with a modest squad.
His appointment at Malut United sparked the same skepticism that once met Imran’s continuity following the club’s promotion. But chairman Willhem Dominggus Nanlohy stood firm, reaffirming the club’s commitment to empowering local coaches—a refreshing stance amid the wave of foreign tacticians dominating the Indonesian top flight.
For his part, Hendri appears to embrace the challenge. In a statement to Liputan6, he described it as the toughest assignment of his career. And yet, with one of the most well-rounded squads in the league at his disposal, the task ahead of him may not be as daunting as it seems.
If Hendri can unify a dressing room bursting with talent and keep the club grounded amid high expectations, then the man deemed “uninspiring” could well script Indonesian football’s next great underdog tale.