VIVA – University League has officially expanded the scope of its competition outside of Java. With the support of Bayan Group through Bayan Peduli, Samarinda indicated as Regional Kalimantan and included in the Campus League Season 1 schedule in 2026.
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The inclusion of Samarinda means that the 2026 Campus League will be held in six host cities. Five of them are located on Java island, namely Jakarta, Bandung, Yogyakarta, Semarang and Surabaya. Samarinda also received special status as the only host city outside Java for the inaugural season.
In the first season, the Campus League will compete in three main sports, namely basketball, badminton and futsal. Samarinda is expected to host all these branches, as well as being confident to stage the opening match of the basketball season in April 2026.
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Campus League CEO Ryan Gozali said the Campus League’s presence in Samarinda since its first season was an important achievement in efforts to expand access to sports competitions for students across Indonesia.
“We are very grateful that the activities we have initiated have received a positive response from Bayan Group through Bayan Peduli. In addition to focusing on organizing sports events, Bayan Group also wants to directly contribute to the people of Kalimantan,” Ryan said at the Campus Connection event at Champione Sports Arena and Cafe, Samarinda, on Thursday, January 29.
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Ryan emphasized that the Campus League has a great commitment to developing student athletes, especially since East Kalimantan is believed to have the potential for outstanding athletes in various sports.
“We want to pick up the ball so that more talent can be reached. If the competition is only focused on Java, obviously access will be limited, both in terms of travel costs and the opportunity to compete,” he said.
Connection to Debutan City campus
Campus Connection in Samarinda is part of the pre-season Campus League series for debuting cities. In Season 0 of 2025, similar activities will be held in Jakarta, Bandung, Yogyakarta and Surabaya. Going into the first season, Campus Connection also took place in new areas as a first step in building a competitive ecosystem.
The students’ enthusiasm seems quite high. About 30 students from 12 universities in East Kalimantan participated in this activity. In fact, representatives of the Balikpapan campuses, about 100 kilometers from Samarinda, were present.
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This event in Samarinda brought together Campus League organizers with universities, campus communities and sports stakeholders in East Kalimantan. In addition to explaining the concept and direction of the competition, Campus Connection is also a space for dialogue to absorb the aspirations of campuses interested in participating.
