Persiba Balikpapan Earns Promotion to Liga 2: Club Plans to Pair Legends from Manchester United and Liverpool
Persiba Balikpapan has successfully secured promotion from Liga 3 to Liga 2 for the 2024-25 season and is now eyeing the possibility of bringing together two football legends from Portugal next season. The team, also known as the "BeruangMadu," made its way into Liga 2 after a dramatic playoff victory over PSGC Ciamis. The match ended in a 2-2 draw after 90 minutes, with Persiba ultimately winning 4-3 in a penalty shootout.
The club’s rise to Liga 2 has been bolstered by the involvement of former Indonesian national team player Evan Dimas and Persija Jakarta’s midfielder HanifSjahbandi, who both became shareholders of the club in early 2025. Following their promotion, there are rumors that Persiba is set to bring in Portuguese football legends Luis Nani and Abel Xavier to the club. This follows a visit by the mayor of Balikpapan, RahmadMas'ud, to Portugal in January 2025, where he met with both Nani, a former Manchester United player, and Xavier, a Liverpool legend.
While the exact roles for Nani and Xavier at Persiba remain unclear, the club has confirmed that they are interested in having them involved next season. However, it is important to note that Liga 2 regulations prohibit foreign coaches, so any potential involvement of these legends may be in other capacities.
In other news, Persiba Balikpapan has addressed the recent legal issues surrounding their director, CaturAdiPrianto. He was arrested by the Indonesian National Police’s Narcotics Crime Unit for alleged drug-related offenses. The club released a statement clarifying that this matter is a personal issue and unrelated to his role with the team, stressing that it will not impact the team’s preparations for the upcoming Liga 2 season.
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