Persija face Persib at SUGBK for first time in 7 years, Shin Tae-yong sends a clear message: Support with passion, not riots

The hottest derby in Indonesian football between Persija Jakarta and Persib Bandung has been officially confirmed to take place at the Main Stadium of Gelora Bung Karno (SUGBK), Jakarta, on Saturday, September 12, 2026. The match is part of matchday two of the 2026/2027 Super League season, and for The Jakmania, this is the moment they have been waiting for since 2026 – the last time Persija hosted Persib in Jakarta. Seven years is not a short period. It is enough for a generation of young players to grow up, enough for memories of the derby to fade among younger fans. During that time, Persija have not lacked matches against Persib at neutral venues, but the atmosphere of a match played in Jakarta is something that cannot be replaced. Last season, the team nicknamed Macan Kemayoran once again had to act as hosts at Segiri Stadium in Samarinda, far from the capital. For the team, that meant losing the home advantage; for the fans, it was a feeling of being disconnected from their own club. Shin Tae-yong understands this better than anyone. The South Korean coach has previously expressed surprise upon learning that Persija had not played a home match against Persib in Jakarta for a long time. For him, a professional club must have the right to play at its own sacred home, just like every other club. A home ground is not only where the team plays, but also where the team feels the strength of the people who have shared so many ups and downs with it. Therefore, when the match was confirmed to return to SUGBK, Shin Tae-yong saw it as a step in the right direction. At the same time, this is the first time he will directly experience the atmosphere of the Persija – Persib derby in Jakarta as head coach of the home team. The Jakmania are expected to create a unique atmosphere, a sound that no stadium in Southeast Asia can copy. Yet that atmosphere only has a positive meaning when it comes with respect. Shin Tae-yong is well aware of this. In his pre-match comments, he not only spoke about tactics, but also took time to remind fans about their conduct. For him, passion must stay within the boundaries of sportsmanship. If riots occur, all the team’s efforts on the pitch will be meaningless. Shin Tae-yong has every reason to talk about safety. During his time in charge of the Indonesian national team, he stood in front of a packed SUGBK crowd of 70,000 spectators. Those matches witnessed no incidents. “When I was in charge of the Indonesian national team, even though the stadium was full with 70,000 spectators, there has never been a single problem. We truly gained strength from that support, and that allowed the team to perform very well and achieve positive results.” That is a double message. On one hand, the South Korean coach wants to build confidence that a packed stadium does not necessarily mean a safety risk. On the other hand, he is warning that any disorder could make Persija lose this rare opportunity. He said clearly: “So, for Persija Jakarta fans, please support our players without causing any trouble, so we can continue to hold home matches at GBK.” The message is not only for The Jakmania, but also for those waiting to see whether Indonesian football has matured enough to hold safe derbies in the capital. Based on my experience following matches, a team does not simply lose three points when its supporters cause trouble. They may lose the right to play at home, lose public sympathy, and lose support from the authorities. For Persija, seven years have passed to understand how expensive that price is. Therefore, this match should not be reduced to a race for a position in the standings. Looking at the professional aspect, Persija also have many reasons to be optimistic. Playing at SUGBK with strong support from the fans will help the home team maintain a high pressing tempo and create continuous attacks toward Persib’s goal. But football is not just about tactical formations. In a derby, emotions carry much of the weight. If Persija allow boos, reckless tackles or controversial referee decisions to affect them, they will easily lose their composure. This is the key point Shin Tae-yong wants his players to understand. Persija do not only need a victory; they need to show enough character to turn their home ground into a place opponents fear, not a venue for pointless chaos. Real home advantage only exists when the team controls the rhythm of the match and the stands control their emotions. The derby between Persija and Persib has never lacked drama. Historically, these meetings have produced stories that are retold years later. But not every story has a happy ending. Reality in Southeast Asia shows that just a few seconds of impulsive behaviour in the stands can destroy the image of an entire football nation. Therefore, the match on September 12, 2026 is not only about Persija. For Shin Tae-yong, this is a chance to reshape the relationship between the club and its supporters. A foreign coach from South Korea may not fully understand the cultural layers of the Indonesian derby, but he understands that elite football requires safety and respect. He proved that at national team level, and now he needs to repeat it at club level. In fact, The Jakmania are famous for creating enormous pressure on opponents. Their singing and colours can turn SUGBK into a boiling cauldron. But that strength also demands great responsibility. They need to prove that what was achieved in national team matches, when tens of thousands of fans created a wall of sound without causing riots, can absolutely be repeated in a club derby. When the opening whistle sounds, all eyes will turn to the pitch. But what may be remembered most after the match is not the goal, but how tens of thousands of people who love football treated each other. If everyone stays calm, Persija may not only earn three points on the pitch but also reclaim something more valuable: the right to return home in the coming seasons. That is the long-term victory Shin Tae-yong is aiming for.