Several Persib Players Confirmed Out for Match Against Manila Digger
Persib Bandung will be without three key players for their AFC Champions League Two (ACL 2) playoff clash against Manila Digger. The news was confirmed directly by Persib head coach, Igor Tolic.
He stated that the team cannot feature the trio for the fixture scheduled on Monday, August 31, 2026, at Si Jalak Harupat Stadium. The three sidelined players are Luciano Guaycochea, Sandy Walsh, and Gakuto Notsuda.
All three are forced to miss out due to injuries. The Croatian coach explained that they are currently undergoing rehabilitation programs and remain unavailable for the upcoming match.
“So far, it’s still Lucho (Luciano Guaycochea), Sandy (Walsh), and Gakuto (Notsuda). They aren’t ready to play yet,” Igor told reporters.
With their absence, Igor Tolic must tweak his setup to keep the squad balanced. Nevertheless, the 48-year-old manager expressed encouragement over their progress and hopes for a swift recovery.
“We are working on finding solutions while they are sidelined, but yes, they will do their best to recover as quickly and smoothly as possible. Apart from them, everyone else is fit and ready to play,” Igor explained.
In addition to the three ruled out, the availability of goalkeeper Fitrah Maulana had also been in question. During the official pre-match training session held a day before the game, Persib only fielded Teja Paku Alam and Rhaka Syafaka Billhuda.
Igor Tolic clarified the main reason behind Fitrah’s absence from the session, revealing that the young goalkeeper was resting due to a minor health issue, though he remains available for selection.
“Yes, he (Fitrah Maulana) is sick today, but he will be fine for tomorrow. It’s just a common flu,” he concluded.
