Stranded in Samarinda, Persija Alter Return Route
The Persija Jakarta squad was left stranded in Samarinda following their match against Borneo FC. The eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau forced the closure of Soekarno-Hatta Airport until further notice.
Persija kicked off their BRI Super League 2026/27 campaign on a high note. Rizky Ridho and his teammates managed to defeat Borneo 1-0 on Saturday (Sep 5).
Alexander Jeremejeff emerged as the match-winner with his lone goal, though a series of brilliant saves by Nadeo Argawinata proved equally crucial.
The team was originally scheduled to fly back to Jakarta on Sunday (Sep 6). However, those plans were put on hold after all incoming flights to Soekarno-Hatta Airport were canceled.
Determined to get back as quickly as possible, the Macan Kemayoran management quickly adjusted their plans and mapped out an alternative return route.
“Due to the impact of the Anak Krakatau eruption, Persija’s travel route to Jakarta has been adjusted. The original Samarinda–Jakarta route will now go through Samarinda–Balikpapan–Yogyakarta–Jakarta,” the club said in an official statement.
The squad urgently needs to return to Jakarta to prepare for their upcoming fixture. The team, coached by Shin Tae-yong, is set to host Persib Bandung on September 12.
Interestingly, Jakarta has also been directly affected by the eruption, with volcanic ash coating the capital. This situation could potentially disrupt the schedule for the highly anticipated clash between Persija and Persib.
