No Easy Ride For Imports

Cole and Essien struggle in new league

When it comes to talk of sleeping giants in football, China and India may hog the headlines but Indonesia has underachieved more than most. This year’s Liga One season is the first official domestic league season in Indonesia since 2014, a gap of three years during which political infighting, interference, corruption – which involved the FA’s chief spending time in prison on corruption charges and still being allowed to hold office – rebel leagues, rebel federations and rebel national teams all came to a head. In 2015 even the previously indifferent and indulgent FIFA stepped in to impose a ban that would last for 12 months.

The build-up to the 2017 season was, therefore, filled with excitement – which was only heightened when a number of clubs went shopping for high profile foreign imports such as Michael Essien, Carlton Cole, Peter Odemwingie, Didier Zokora and Mohamed Sissoko.

Indonesia loves its football and many league games are not for the faint-hearted as it is a vibrant, if sometimes violent, competition. Much is demanded of imported players and they are not given too much time to adapt. The stars are expected to show they are better than the locals almost immediately.