After spending almost a year without a long-term full competition, Indonesian football welcomed the Torabika Soccer Championship (TSC). The competition featured 18 clubs, including the traditionals such as Persija, Persib, Persipura, and PSM, as well as new clubs like Bhayangkara FC, PS TNI, and Madura United. At the end of the 34th week, Persipura prevailed at the top of the table, despite previously having a bad start.
Up to 515 players took part in the competition. Several familiar names have proven their quality. Some of them sunk and trampled by the new ones.
Having the honor of being the competition’s statistics partner, we have chosen our Best XI based on their performance and, of course, their numbers. Here are the selections:
Andritany Ardhiyasa (Persija)
Andritany’s performance was cut short due to national team call up. Before then, he topped the list of goalkeepers with most saves, before eventually surpassed by Wahyu Tri Nugroho. With the national team, he actually did pretty well on the friendlies but benched throughout the 2016 AFF Cup.
As Persija’s performance was below expectation, Andritany’s contribution surfaced with his fight-hard mentality and, most certainly, his fine saves. Averagely, he had to face 5.6 shots directed to his goal, which is the highest average for goalkeepers with more than 20 appearances. His 80.8% save success rate is also competition’s highest.
He may only managed to keep his goal clean in 5 occasions. Be that as it may, without his remarkable performance, Persija would’ve conceded more.
Ricardo Salampessy (Persipura)
A vital presence in Persipura’s defense. Using his experience, Salampessy paired nicely with other Persipura center halves. He also contributed to 4 out of Persipura’s 53 goals, with 2 goals and 2 assists.
He received a straight red card when he tried to pull a ‘Suarez Save’ against Persib. But in overall, the veteran Ambonese performed well and consistently.
Hamka Hamzah (Arema)
Seasoned, slow, high-tempered, and unfit. Those are some negative thoughts from several Arema fans upon Hamka’s arrival to the club. But those thoughts eventually disappeared and never to be heard of, after the ex PDRM defender displayed a remarkable performance throughout the competition.
Hamka had major role on making Arema the team with best defense. He was involved in Arema’s 19 clean sheets. He also excelled offensively, scoring 9 goals and provided 4 assists, which are the highest among defensive players. Remarkably, none of his 9 goals were scored from penalty.
His statistical records made him the player with most points collected in the Fantasy League.
Otavio Dutra (Bhayangkara FC)
Another old-timer in defense, Dutra still possesses the quality of a good, tactical center back. His CTI (clearance, tackle, interception) per game average is on the top 5 among defenders. He’s always involved in the 8 matches where Bhayangkara FC did not concede.
The Brazilian could’ve equaled Hamka’s 9-goal record if he could manage to convert all penalties he was appointed to. From 5 penalties executed, he failed on 3 of them, making him the player with most failed penalties in the competition. Nonetheless, his 6 goals is second highest among defenders, in par with Vladimir Vujovic (Persib).
Yustinus Pae (Persipura)
As player with most appearance AND most minutes played, Yustinus Pae proved three things. First, is that he is a reliable and important player for Persipura on their campaign to win the title. Even after managerial change, he maintained his spot on the right full back position.
Second, is that his disciplinary record is as clean as baby’s butt. Playing 3.049 minutes, TiPa only received one yellow card. Averagely he only committed 1.3 fouls per game.
Third, is that his 33-year age is just a number. He managed to endure a long and tiring competition while playing the role of the most active position in football. Fortunately, it ended nicely for TiPa and Persipura.
Hariono (Persib)
The 31 year old player only excluded from the team in 2 matches due to accumulated yellow card sanctions. Hariono was involved in 14 out of 15 matches where Persib made clean sheet. His experience and poise brought balance in Persib’s midfield.
His 1.3 average dispossession per match is among the lowest for defensive midfielder, along with his 1.8 successful tackle and 1.9 fouls committed averages.
Ultimately, he scored his first goal for Persib after 8 years of service. He successfully converted a penalty, which was presented to him by original executor Atep, in the match against Perseru.
Rasyid Assahid Bakri (PSM)
The youngest member on this list, Rasyid became PSM’s metronome in midfield under Robert Rene Alberts’ command. The Dutch coach then instilled Rasyid’s swift and creative style of play as an integral part in his 4-3-3 system. Eventually, the oldest participant in the competition performed really well on the second half of the season.
Rasyid contributed in almost half of PSM’s goals with 7 goals and 8 assists. He paired nicely with Wiljan Pluim in PSM’s engine room. With Alberts decision to stay, the local Makassar boy surely has a bright future ahead.
Johan Alfarizi (Arema)
Also an important part in Arema’s defense, Alfarizi has proven that his quality should put him on the national team call up. Sadly that never happened due to limitation of club members to the national team. So, he focused on Arema, and became the team’s player with most appearances.
Offensively, Alfarizi contributed 2 goals and created average 1 goal scoring chance on each appearance. He also topped the team’s crossing attempt list. Defensively, other than involved in Arema’s 19 clean sheet record, his 18 cross blocks are on the top 3 in the competition.
Marcel Silva Sacramento (Semen Padang)
Finished productively in his first year in Indonesian football with 21 goals and 6 assists in 31 appearances. Having previously plotted as second striker, Marcel then pushed further forward as main striker. He quickly adapt to the role and delivered well under Nil Maizar’s command.
Marcel’s 51 chances created is the highest in the tournament. With his outstanding first season, it’s no surprise that Semen Padang decided to keep him for next year. However, he has a task that he needs to improve: performance on away matches.
Erick Weeks Lewis (Madura United)
Only few people who have thought that Madura United could join the top-table race. Under Gomes de Olivera, the team from Madura Island spent some time at the top before eventually ran out of gas, late in the season. In the midst of such achievement, is a Liberian playmaker, Erick Weeks Lewis.
Madura’s coach, Gomes de Olivera acknowledged Erick’s maximum potential can be seen only if he is posted in his favorite position: behind the striker. Playing in 4-2-3-1 system, the former Mitra Kukar and Persiwa player performed nicely and cooperated well with other players. He ended the season with 4 goals and 5 assists from 26 appearances.
Alberto Goncalves Da Costa (Sriwijaya FC)
25 goals from 30 appearances, which includes two hattricks and a poker, also provide 5 assists which made Sriwijaya FC the most productive team in the competition (along with Pusamania Borneo FC). Enough said.
The only thing lacking in Beto’s 8th season in Indonesian football is that his team is out of the top 3.
