In the course of more than three decades, Arema has become the football identity of young people in Malang Raya, East Java. The 1992-1993 Galatama title, the 2009-2010 Indonesian Super League, and the two-time Copa Indonesia trophy are real proof of Arema’s status as one of the top teams in the history of modern Indonesian football.
However, apart from the controversial attitude of the club management regarding the Kanjuruhan Tragedy, Arema also keeps a big secret that has not been revealed to the public about the history of the club’s establishment. Through the Kompas archives it was found that the name of the Arema football team had existed since 1986. In fact, Acub Zaenal, who was ordained as the founder of Arema, was not the sole central figure in the birth of the team bearing the lion logo.
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Acub was the person who announced Arema 86 as one of the six new clubs in the 1987-1988 Galatama competition. In an agenda in Surabaya, June 1987, Acub as Chairman III of PSSI for Galatama said the six new teams were Arema 86, Bandung Union, Bekasi Putra, Lampung Putra, Palu Putra, and a team in Medan, North Sumatra.
KOMPAS/DUDY SUDIBYO (DS)
The coach of Perkesa 78, Acub Zaenal, even stood behind the goal giving encouragement to his players when they faced Jayakarta, 26 November 1979, in the 1979 Galatama competition at Senayan Main Stadium, Jakarta. In that match, Perkesa lost, 0-1.
In the June 13, 1987 edition of Kompas, Acub explained that the new teams carried the name of the club’s area of origin in order to create regional pride. It is hoped that the local community will feel that they belong to the club so that they can increase the interest of the spectators to come and see the team compete in Galatama.
As for Dirk “Derek” Sutrisno, he is known to have founded the Armada 86 club, then changed the club’s name to Arema 86 in mid-1986. When Arema 86 was decided by PSSI as a new member of Galatama in the eighth season of the professional league, Derek was appointed as team manager.
In the 10 July 1987 edition of the Bola tabloid, Derek revealed that the presence of Arema 86 as the new contestant for Galatama was the brainchild of Acub and the Mayor of Malang at that time, Tom Uripan Nitiharjo.
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“This club cannot exist without the efforts of Mr. Acub and Mr. Tom. Both of them were so enthusiastic about establishing the Galatama club in Malang,” said Derek.
COMPASS DAILY ARCHIVES
Archives of Kompas edition of Tuesday, July 21, 1987, which presents news on the trial of Arema 86 against the South Korean team, Halleluyah.
Acub’s request that the club be managed professionally was realized by appointing Acub’s son, Lucky A Zaenal, as the Daily Chair of Arema 86. The establishment of Arema 86 was legalized through the establishment of the Arema 86 Foundation in front of a notary, Kamaruzaman, 6 June 1987.
At that time, Derek revealed, Arema 86’s first coach was Sungkono Sudhiarto by recruiting 20 players. PT Bentoel Malang is the club’s main sponsor. To prepare for the competition, training camp began on 1 July 1987.
Always lose
Ahead of welcoming their first participation in Galatama, Arema 86 is preparing itself by undergoing a number of trial matches.
This club cannot be separated from the efforts of Mr. Acub and Mr. Tom. Both of them were so enthusiastic about establishing the Galatama club in Malang.
The preparatory match for Arema 86 which was witnessed by a large number of people was against the South Korean team, Halleluyah, Monday, 20 July 1987, at the Gajayana Stadium, Malang. About 9,000 pairs of eyes witnessed the club that brought new hope for the revival of Malang football to be crushed 1-5.
COMPASS DAILY ARCHIVES
Arema 86 line-up when testing against PSSI B, Sunday (26/7/1987), at Gajayana Stadium, Malang, East Java.
In a number of trial matches, Arema 86 was coached by Coach Slamet Pramono. Their mainstay players are Kusnadi Kamaludin, Effendi Azis, Afari, and Mahdi Haris.
Pramono said that his team was helpless in facing Halleluyah for two reasons. Field fever is one reason the Arema 86 squad can’t keep up with the visiting team. “Besides that, they also seem inexperienced,” said Pramono.
Within a week, Arema 86 underwent three trials against Niac Mitra, PSSI B and PSSI ABRI which ended in defeat. They fell 0-2 from Niac Mitra, 1-3 from PSSI B, and 0-2 from PSSI ABRI.
Change of name
With various problems in preparation, including a series of defeats in four test matches, the club’s management made a reshuffle in mid-August 1987. The name Arema 86 was changed to Arema Malang, so the year-old label was removed.
COMPASS DAILY ARCHIVES
The 20 August 1987 edition of the Kompas News reported on Arema Malang’s plan to recruit Sinyo Aliandoe as coach at Galatama for the 1987-1988 season.
Acub, who served as Chairman III of PSSI and managed Galatama, was lined up as General Chair of Arema. Acub also appointed Sinyo Aliandoe, a legend and national coach, to manage the team which is expected to end Malang’s thirst to see the team from the cold city in Indonesia’s highest caste competition. At the same time, Persema Malang played in United Division One after being relegated in 1985.
Not only as a coach, Sinyo also replaced Derek as team manager. The reason for being busy with work made Derek resign from Arema’s management.
Anwar Hudijono, a senior journalist for Kompas, said that Acub’s direct involvement in preparing Arema to take part in Galatama could not be separated from pressure from journalists in Malang.
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“I and a number of fellow journalists asked directly for Mr. Acub to intervene to save Arema. It’s a shame that Malang’s club is dirty (in bad condition),” Anwar said in a chat at the end of last July.
BALL TABLOID ARCHIVES
The 10 July 1987 edition of the Tabloid Bola News featuring an interview with Arema 86 Manager Dirk “Derek” Sutrisno. Derek revealed Arema 86’s preparations ahead of the 1987-1988 Galatama debut season.
This condition was caused by the poor quality of the players, then the financial situation which made it impossible to compete with established Galatama clubs, such as Niac Mitra. The management of the club held by Acub from Derek, said Anwar, was a normal change in the organization.
“Arema is really a new club, not a continuation of Arema 86 whose formation was based on the Arema 86 Foundation deed, early last June. In the eyes of the League, Arema is a legitimate and recognized club. It’s not Arema 86 whose existence, based on the league’s assessment, can no longer be accounted for,” said Acub in the August 22, 1987 edition of Kompas.
I and several fellow journalists directly asked Pak Acub to intervene to save Arema. Shame on Malang, Arek’s club is ruined.
The release of “86” from the name Arema was carried out on August 13, 1987. The establishment of Arema Malang was based on a notarial deed dated August 11, 1987.
Even so, Arema Malang accommodated 12 Arema 86 players. Five players who were immediately recruited were Atari, Kusnadi Kamaludin, Erwin Yoyo, Effendy Aziz, and Mahdi Haris. The remaining seven players followed the selection.
COMPASS/MUHAMMAD IKSHAN MAHAR
A number of murals adorn walls in the Kayutangan area, Malang, East Java, Friday (25/7/2023), which demands a thorough investigation of the Kanjuruhan Tragedy. The tragedy occurred after the match between Arema and Persebaya Surabaya, October 1, 2022.
Anwar added, Arema 86 still exists as part of the Arema Malang Guidance Division. This condition is similar to that of Niac Mitra, who continues to guide PS Mitra as a supplier of players.
“Pak Acub’s idea was that a professional club must have a fostered club,” said Anwar.
Finally, at the PSSI meeting at the Hotel Indonesia, Jakarta, August 22, six clubs were accepted as new contestants for the 1987-1988 Galatama. They are Arema Malang, Bandung Union, Lampung Putra, Palu Putra, Medan Jaya, and Pusri Palembang.
Noda
After experiencing a long journey for more than three decades, Arema seems to have written a stain in the history of Indonesian football. The Kanjuruhan tragedy, October 1, 2022, which killed 135 Aremania caused some Malang arek to abandon their identities as supporters of Singo Edan.
KOMPAS/DEFRI WERDIONO
Thousands of Aremania lit flares at the commemoration of Arema’s 36th Anniversary in the middle of a long march from Gajayana Stadium to the Kayutangan area, Malang City, East Java, Thursday (10/08/2023) evening to Friday (11/8/2023) early morning.
Eko Cahyono, one of Aremania, experienced a fading love for Arema. Eko believes that Arema’s management has not shown sympathy for the victims so they will continue to participate in the 2022-2023 League 1, even participating in the 2023-2024 season competition.
“I respect it more when last season the team resigned. It shows that Arema’s management is sorry for the 135 Aremania who lost their lives as a result of supporting their favorite team,” said Eko.
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Not only Eko, a number of Arema supporters also put up banners and posters in the corners of Malang City demanding justice for the victims of the Kanjuruhan Tragedy. One of them, a large black banner with the words “Investigate Completely” installed on a pedestrian crossing bridge in the Kayutangan area, Malang.
After obscuring the history of the club’s establishment, will Arema also obscure the human tragedy at the Kanjuruhan Stadium, October 1, 2022? Time will answer….
