My First Job!
Mitra Kukar FC - Club 1 - Season 1 - Update 1
At last, after 2 months of job interviews, on the 4th October 2019 I took charge of my first team – Mitra Kukar FC in the second tier of Indonesia!
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Upon joining the team we were seated in top spot of the Eastern section of the Indonesian Liga 2 with 3 games to go. The plan was to play the remainder of the games, hoping for promotion (beware incoming wacky promotion rules) before making any future plans for the club and the players. Therefore, I have chosen to not give you a background on the club or players just yet in case my stint as manager only lasts the final 3 games!
However, we managed to win all 3 of the remaining games meaning we finished top of the division!
But, this was not the end. The rules of this league meant that the top 4 teams in both the East and West leagues were drawn into 2 four teamed round robin groups to play-off for promotion. The top 2 from each group would then qualify for the semi finals (as there were only 3 promotion spots to split between the 4 qualifying teams). Luckily we were able to navigate our way out of our group fairly comfortably and into the semi finals where we would face Persita Tangerang whom we had just beaten 1-0 to secure top stop in the group.
The winners of the semi-finals were given an automatic promotion spot, as well as a place in the final to be crowned champions of the league. The losers however qualified for a further, one legged playoff for the final promotion place.
Promotion Semi-final
The first leg of the semi final (at home) started awfully and we trailed 1-0 at half time without a single shot on goal. A few tactical tweaks in the second half saw us turn the game in our favour and we were unlucky to come away with a 1-1 draw at the end of 90 minutes. Unfortunately for us, away goals counted in the second leg so we knew we would have to score at least one goal to progress to the final. Additionally, our best right winger had picked up a knock and wold not be available to play.
The second leg rolled around, although it appeared the players had forgotten to board the team bus as we found ourselves 3 goals down after 20 minutes. After conceding a fourth goal on 26 minutes it was clear that we were not going to win the tie, so damage limitation and resting players for the now huge third place promotion playoff was a must. (We ended the game losing 6-1 but we can ignore that).
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For the final promotion playoff we were drawn against Persatu Tuban who had finished 4th in our league campaign. That gave me some confidence after our drubbing the game before, however I was still unsure how the players would respond. I decided to make only a few changes to the team (mainly because our subs bench was dreadful) and it paid off after half an hour with top scorer Fauzi nodding home from a corner. We dominated the rest of the first half and the start of the second so I was gutted when we conceded (also from a corner) to make it 1-1. It seems that set pieces might be a weakness of our so this is something to focus on next season. Fortunately, our dominance paid off and we retook the lead through Aprilianto (our other striker) with 15 minutes to go.
Despite our defensive horror show just a week earlier, we managed to hold out and secure promotion to the top tier (Shopee Liga 1) – a great start to my career as an unknown manager!
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Despite the jubilant scenes at full time, I knew there was a lot of work needed for us to be competitive next season and hopefully avoid the drop. This was going to be helped by the change of rules in the top league, with 4 foreign players allowed in the squad (0 in Liga 2).
The next league season did not start until April 2020, giving me almost 4 months to complete my off-season transfers and behind the scenes activities ahead of my first full year as a manager.
*My next update will be giving a full rundown of Mitra Kukar FC as a club as well as the transfers that I make over the winter break. As always, thanks for your support!*
Mitra Kukar FC - Club 1 - Season 1 - Update 1
At last, after 2 months of job interviews, on the 4th October 2019 I took charge of my first team – Mitra Kukar FC in the second tier of Indonesia!
Upon joining the team we were seated in top spot of the Eastern section of the Indonesian Liga 2 with 3 games to go. The plan was to play the remainder of the games, hoping for promotion (beware incoming wacky promotion rules) before making any future plans for the club and the players. Therefore, I have chosen to not give you a background on the club or players just yet in case my stint as manager only lasts the final 3 games!
However, we managed to win all 3 of the remaining games meaning we finished top of the division!
But, this was not the end. The rules of this league meant that the top 4 teams in both the East and West leagues were drawn into 2 four teamed round robin groups to play-off for promotion. The top 2 from each group would then qualify for the semi finals (as there were only 3 promotion spots to split between the 4 qualifying teams). Luckily we were able to navigate our way out of our group fairly comfortably and into the semi finals where we would face Persita Tangerang whom we had just beaten 1-0 to secure top stop in the group.
The winners of the semi-finals were given an automatic promotion spot, as well as a place in the final to be crowned champions of the league. The losers however qualified for a further, one legged playoff for the final promotion place.
Promotion Semi-final
The first leg of the semi final (at home) started awfully and we trailed 1-0 at half time without a single shot on goal. A few tactical tweaks in the second half saw us turn the game in our favour and we were unlucky to come away with a 1-1 draw at the end of 90 minutes. Unfortunately for us, away goals counted in the second leg so we knew we would have to score at least one goal to progress to the final. Additionally, our best right winger had picked up a knock and wold not be available to play.
The second leg rolled around, although it appeared the players had forgotten to board the team bus as we found ourselves 3 goals down after 20 minutes. After conceding a fourth goal on 26 minutes it was clear that we were not going to win the tie, so damage limitation and resting players for the now huge third place promotion playoff was a must. (We ended the game losing 6-1 but we can ignore that).
For the final promotion playoff we were drawn against Persatu Tuban who had finished 4th in our league campaign. That gave me some confidence after our drubbing the game before, however I was still unsure how the players would respond. I decided to make only a few changes to the team (mainly because our subs bench was dreadful) and it paid off after half an hour with top scorer Fauzi nodding home from a corner. We dominated the rest of the first half and the start of the second so I was gutted when we conceded (also from a corner) to make it 1-1. It seems that set pieces might be a weakness of our so this is something to focus on next season. Fortunately, our dominance paid off and we retook the lead through Aprilianto (our other striker) with 15 minutes to go.
Despite our defensive horror show just a week earlier, we managed to hold out and secure promotion to the top tier (Shopee Liga 1) – a great start to my career as an unknown manager!
Despite the jubilant scenes at full time, I knew there was a lot of work needed for us to be competitive next season and hopefully avoid the drop. This was going to be helped by the change of rules in the top league, with 4 foreign players allowed in the squad (0 in Liga 2).
The next league season did not start until April 2020, giving me almost 4 months to complete my off-season transfers and behind the scenes activities ahead of my first full year as a manager.
*My next update will be giving a full rundown of Mitra Kukar FC as a club as well as the transfers that I make over the winter break. As always, thanks for your support!*
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