Pan Hellenic v Persija Jakarta (Indonesia)

Pan Hellenic v Persija Jakarta (Ind)

Written and Researched by Greg Stock.


The Indonesian club side Persija Jakarta toured Australia in early 1974 playing matches against a number of sides.
Played : Sunday January 11 1974 Venue : Wentworth Park, Ultimo
Pan Hellenic
Anthony Maglis, Fieldhouse, Jimmy Izzatt, Richard Bell, Ibvo Rudic, Bruce Stowell, Agenor Muniz, George Barboutis, Gary Manuel, David Harding, Peter Brankin; Sub: Ikonomou; Coach : John Kalogeras.
Goal : Manuel 30'
1 - 1 Persija Jakarta (Indonesia)
Yudo Hadianto, Sutan Harhara, Rachman Halim, Oyong Lisa, Widodo, Sofyan Hadi, Suhanta, Arwijanto, Risdianto, Iswadi, Sumirta; Subs: Anjas Asmara, Ibrahim, Makmum; Coach: Sinjo Aliandu.
Goal: Risdianto
Referee : Tony Boskovic
Attendance : 4,121

Match Report by Keith Gilmour

Persija Jakarta proved that they had settled in well since their shaky tour opening at Woonona, and Pan Hellenic confirmed they have plenty of hard yakka ahead when the teams met at Wentworth Park last Sunday. The 1-1 result was fair enough but of the pair it was the Indonesians who should have settled the issue. They threw away half a dozen chances at the end by miscuing with only the keen Tony Maglis to beat. Risdianto and Iswadi are a determined pair of forwards, and the pity is that their iron resolve fails to rub off on to their goal-shy team-mates. Sundays match heralded the return of Gary Manuel, who has recuperated well after a severe thigh operation. Manuel picked up his team's goal, and generally did enough to prove that he will be well to the fore again. For highly-rated Ivo Rudic, his debut for Pan Hellenic, was less auspicious. Risdianto eluded him to record Persija's goal but there are better things to come from this gifted player. After Manuel had guided the first chance of the match past Yudo Hadianto's goal, Risdianto broke through to put Persija ahead. Then in the 19th minute it was Risdianto to the fore again. He went crab-wise across the box, but just as a goal appeared imminent Jimmy Izatt arrived with a last ditch tackle. Hadianto was intercepting well and nuggetty Oyong Lisa was tackling away to his hearts content. Sutan Harhara went off with an unlucky head injury. Then in the 30th minute Pan Hellenic were on even terms as Manuel poked the ball into the net. Like many a good header, Widodo was excelling by rising above the bunch at the right split second. Agenor Muniz often threatened to break through, but he was not quite able to cap off his moves. He was quick enough to recognise the chance when he pounced in the 57th minute, but the ball was a few centimetres off line and struck the outside of the post. Ibrahim had every chance but he muffed it after Iswadi had swung wide to retrieve and then press the attack. Little Iswadi again came into action and he all but won the game with a snap shot that caught the inside edge of the post before somehow glancing back into play. Pan Hellenic proceeded to give Persija even more room in which to exercise their skills, but finishing by Arwijanto, Ibrahim and Suhanta lacked punch. For Western Suburbs, sponsors of the tour in return for their Indonesian trip last October, it was a day of being thankful for small mercies. The crowd of 4,121 made a reasonable contribution to the not inconsiderable return required from the tour, and the Wentworth Park pitch was a joy to behold. Had the torrents of the last week continued to Sunday the position financially would have been more grim.