Persis Solo suffered a 0-2 defeat against Kendal Tornado FC in a Group B Pegadaian Championship 2026/2027 fixture at Stadion Manahan on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. Following the home loss, coach Ricky Nelson accepted full responsibility for the result and stated he would leave his future entirely up to club management.
Ricky Nelson Assumes Blame After Stadion Manahan Defeat
The home fixture unspooled in front of supporters at Stadion Manahan in Surakarta, where Persis Solo struggled to establish rhythm against a more organized visiting side. Ricky Nelson addressed the media immediately after the final whistle and offered a direct apology to the fans and the wider community in Solo. “Yang paling pertama, saya pribadi bertanggung jawab. Minta maaf atas kekalahan di kandang, sangat memalukan. Tapi ini tanggung jawab saya,” Ricky stated in the post-match press conference.
The coach explained that while tactical preparations were completed ahead of kickoff, the squad lacked fundamental grit on the pitch. According to Ricky, Kendal Tornado FC exhibited superior cohesion because the visiting roster has spent significantly more time together than the rebuilding Laskar Sambernyawa lineup. Despite the shortcomings on display, the coach declined to fault his players publicly, choosing instead to shield the squad from direct criticism. For the upcoming fixtures, he intends to instill motivation in all his players to perform better.
/data/photo/2026/10/01/6abe3a2cd1236.jpg "Photo: Kompas")
Contrasting Coverage From Matchday Reporting
It was highlighted that the home side failed to capitalize when Kendal Tornado FC was reduced to 10 men following a second yellow card shown to Ibnu Hajar in the 72nd minute for a high boot. Other reports detailed the timeline of the breakthrough moment, noting that the deadlock was broken in the 60th minute when a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review awarded a penalty converted by Patrick Cruz. Ousmane Maiket later sealed the 0-2 scoreline with a strike in the 90th+3 minute.
Additional matchday coverage noted that visiting player Ousmane Camara threatened early in the 11th minute after breaking away from an offside position, though his shot was saved by goalkeeper Pualam. Persis Solo responded through a 28th-minute free-kick from Saldi that sailed narrowly over the crossbar, leaving the first half scoreless. Early in the second half, the hosts squandered a rapid counter-attacking opportunity in the 52nd minute when Vico registered a header that was too weak and easily gathered by goalkeeper Try Hamdani. Winger Feby Eka noted that the players had worked hard, though two attempts struck the goal frame. Meanwhile, individual performances also drew scrutiny, with Ricky admitting that he has yet to unlock the best form from player Hendri Douw across the team’s opening matches. Saturday’s wider competition schedule also featured Persiku Kudus losing 1-2 to PSGC Ciamis at Stadion Sultan Agung in Bantul, Yogyakarta, where Ghani Fatir and Bagus Cahya scored for the visitors and Mufid Zainun Falah supplied the sole goal for the hosts. Other results saw PSMS Medan defeat Persikad 4-0, RANS Nusantara FC rout PSBS Biak 5-1, and PSIS secure a narrow 1-0 win against Adhyaksa FC Bekasi.
It was observed that the defeat left Persis Solo with just four points from their opening four matches of the campaign, complicating their stated ambition of securing promotion back to Liga 1. The club’s early-season record features a 7-0 victory over PSBS Biak, a draw against Persipura Jayapura, and two losses against Persela Lamongan and Kendal Tornado FC.
Management Weighs Up Immediate Squad Evaluations
Club hierarchy indicated that swift administrative steps would follow the disappointing home result. It was reported that Komisaris Utama Adityo Rimbo addressed supporters and media at Stadion Manahan, confirming that the ownership group and front office intend to conduct a thorough review of both the coaching staff and the playing roster. Rimbo emphasized that the club remains financially stable and that management will sit down for direct discussions with players and coaches to diagnose the team’s ongoing struggles. Rimbo explicitly noted that the club is not facing financial problems.
When questioned about the mounting pressure from the supporter base, including the Pasoepati fan group, Rimbo maintained that leadership listens closely to public feedback. The executive reiterated that despite the slow start to the Championship schedule, the primary target of returning to Liga 1 remains unchanged.
Persis Solo Evaluates Technical Staff Before Next Match
Persis Solo faces a critical developmental period on the training ground before their next competitive outing in the Pegadaian Championship 2026/2027. Whether the club will enact changes to the technical staff or maintain confidence in Ricky Nelson remains undisclosed as management prepares to conclude its formal evaluations.
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