Madura United Coach Acknowledges Fierce Competition in Liga 1 2023-2024

KOMPAS.com – Coach Madura UnitedMauricio Souza, acknowledged the format Liga 1 2023-2024 This season makes the competition fierce.

The 2023-2024 League 1 competition is divided into two rounds, namely the Regular Series and the Championship Series.

At the moment Borneo FC and Persib Bandung have received tickets to the Championship Series.

Meanwhile, the other two tickets are being contested by Bali United, Madura United, Dewa United, PSIS Semarang and Persik Kediri in the remaining two matches of the Regular Series.

Furthermore, after undergoing 34 weeks of the Regular Series, the top four teams in the standings will continue their struggle in the knockout round, namely the Championship Series which is in a home-away format.

In the 2023-2024 League 1 Championship Series, the first place occupant of the Regular Series will meet the team in fourth place.

Also read: The key to Borneo FC dominating the Liga 1 Regular Series in the eyes of Pieter Huistra

In another semifinal chart, the second ranked club will compete against the team in third place in the Regular Series.

“We have to follow. With the Championship Series, from the start our aim was there. This will be a ‘new competition’ for everyone,” said Mauricio Souza, the Madura United coach from Brazil.

“There are semifinals and finals and it will be exciting,” said Mauricio Souza commenting on the Championship Series format.

According to Mauricio Souza, Borneo FC actually deserves to be champion by occupying the top of the 2023-2024 Regular Serie Liga 1 standings with 70 points.

Throughout the competition, Borneo FC played extraordinary by getting 21 wins, seven draws and only experiencing four defeats.

“Honestly, in my opinion, Borneo FC should have become champions,” said Mauricio Souza.

“This is my first time in Indonesia. So I think this league would be more ideal if they won outright. Borneo would definitely be the champion if we used a format like that,” he said.

Also read: Persib’s strategy to get fit mainstay players to take part in the League 1 Championship Series

Now, Borneo FC, a team nicknamed Pesut Etam, has established itself as the best club in the 2023-2024 Liga 1 Regular Series.

PT Liga Indonesia Baru as competition operator has held a ceremony to hand over trophies and medals for the 2023-2024 Regular Series Liga 1.

The 2023-2024 Liga 1 Regular Series champion trophy was awarded by Prof. Dr. Zainudin Amali was always Deputy General Chair of PSSI to the captain of the Borneo FC team, Diego Michiels.

The ceremony was held in the 32nd match week, after Borneo FC was defeated by Arema FC 1-2 at the Balikpapan Batakan Stadium, last Sunday (21/4/2024).

Borneo FC players were lost in happiness when they lifted the plate-shaped trophy that looked like the German Bundesliga title.

KOMPAS.com/SUCI RAHAYU Madura United coach in Liga 1 2023-2024 from Brazil, Mauricio Souza.

This Regular Series trophy is in the form of a disc with a diameter of 50 cm with a thickness varying between 1 and 3 mm.

Apart from that, there are other interesting details on the trophy, such as the 18 binding symbols, which represent the number of clubs participating in the competition.

This symbol is united by a blue topaz gemstone. Then there is a 45 chain motif on the trophy, to mark the year of Indonesian independence, namely 1945.

“Of course, without minimizing the true meaning of winning after the Championship Series round,” said LIB Operations Director, Asep Saputra, quoted from the Liga Indonesia Baru website.

“It is hoped that this award will motivate the club to not only fight when entering the Championship Series round, but also from competing in the Regular Series round.”

“Because, there will be a beautiful trophy ready to go into the club’s cupboard if they are able to win this round,” said Asep Saputra.

Listen to breaking news and our selection of news directly on your cellphone. Choose your favorite channel to access Kompas.com WhatsApp Channel news: https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaFPbedBPzjZrk13HO3D. Make sure you have installed the WhatsApp application.