Amid the ongoing uncertainties surrounding the construction of Nusantara, Indonesia’s proposed new capital, the city suffered a symbolic sporting blow after its only professional football club, Nusantara United, was sold to Lampung businessman Arie Nanda Djausal. The club has since been permanently relocated to Bandar Lampung and rebranded as Nusantara Lampung FC.
Nusantara itself was the brainchild of former president Joko Widodo, envisioned as a multitrillion-rupiah megaproject that would ease Jakarta’s burden as the nation’s capital. However, the project has long drawn criticism for its environmental impact, displacement of indigenous communities, and its perception as a vanity project rather than a practical solution.
Current president Prabowo Subianto has pledged to continue construction, but austerity measures and shifting budget priorities—particularly toward his flagship free lunch program and defense modernization—have slowed progress considerably. The National Democrat (NasDem) Party has even called for construction to be halted altogether, citing fears of a budget strain. Amid this climate, Nusantara’s very future as Indonesia’s capital remains in limbo, with no presidential decree yet issued to officially move the seat of government from Jakarta.
It was within this uncertainty that Nusantara United found itself adrift. The club had been founded after Gamma Thohir, nephew of Indonesian FA (PSSI) president Erick Thohir, acquired the Liga 2 license of Mataram Utama in 2022. Designed to represent Nusantara within the national football pyramid, the club placed heavy emphasis on youth development, establishing partnerships with feeder teams across Southeast Asia—including Singapore’s Lion City Sailors and Balestier Khalsa, the Philippines’ Davao Aguilas-UMak, and Master FC of Laos.
During its short lifespan, Nusantara United spent three seasons in Liga 2, including the cancelled 2022 campaign due to the Kanjuruhan Tragedy. They narrowly avoided relegation in 2023/24 before eventually dropping down in the 2024/25 season after a poor run of form. Actor-musician El Rumi lent star power as club president in recent years, while Gamma Thohir’s father, businessman Garibaldi Thohir, provided financial backing.
Though based in Boyolali, Central Java, and playing home matches at the scenic Kebogiro Stadium, the club had long scouted venues in East Kalimantan—such as Balikpapan’s Batakan Stadium and Samarinda’s Segiri Stadium—in preparation for an eventual move closer to the new capital. Yet as political momentum behind Nusantara stalled, the club’s identity as “the capital’s team” became increasingly untenable.
By mid-2025, cracks began to show. Despite continuing its youth initiatives—such as sending players on loan to the Philippines and competing in the Soeratin Cup—Nusantara United was rocked by Gamma Thohir’s sudden resignation in July. Though reasons were not made public, speculation linked his departure to investor fatigue and dwindling confidence in the Nusantara project itself.
Then, in August, came the decisive blow: Arie Nanda Djausal, brother of Lampung governor Rahmat Mirzani Djausal, took over the club and swiftly moved operations to Bandar Lampung. The decision mirrored his brother’s earlier role in relocating Super League newcomers Bhayangkara Presisi Lampung.
While Nusantara United had been warmly received in Boyolali, it never built a strong fanbase there. Relocation to Lampung offered both greater stability and the chance to connect with a passionate local football culture. To spearhead the transition, Djausal appointed Persija Jakarta legend Ismed Sofyan as technical director, who immediately launched youth trials for Lampung-based talent.
The sale and relocation of Nusantara United underscore the precarious path facing Indonesia’s new capital. More than a footballing setback, it represents the stripping away of one of Nusantara’s earliest cultural anchors — a team meant to rally local pride and forge a shared identity. As Prabowo Subianto weighs the future of the capital project, the loss of its only professional club serves as a stark reminder: without symbols of belonging, Nusantara risks becoming not a city of the people, but a hollow experiment in nation-building.