Thomas Doll, the new head coach of Persija Jakarta, recently conducted his first training session after a brief quarantine due to COVID-19. During this session, he discussed the intense rivalry between Persija and Persib Bandung, likening its emotional stakes to that of some of Europe’s most famous derbies. Doll’s extensive background in European football imbues his observations with considerable weight, emphasizing the significance of this Indonesian clash.
Following a brief encounter with COVID-19 that hindered his initial arrival in Jakarta, Thomas Doll, the new head coach of Persija Jakarta, successfully led the team in training for the first time on Wednesday. Conducted at the Nirwana Field in Sawangan, Depok, West Java, the session attracted various journalists eager to glean insights from the former Hamburg SV manager regarding his latest undertaking. This training marked Persija’s third pre-season session, yet it was the inaugural one presided over by Coach Doll, who had arrived in Jakarta on Monday evening. His recent COVID-19 positive test necessitated a period of quarantine, causing him to miss the earlier practices. Accompanied by his new assistant coach, Pasquale Rocco, Doll noted the enthusiasm and industriousness exhibited by the Persija players throughout the session. During the training, Doll addressed inquiries from the media, highlighting the fierce rivalry between Persija and Persib Bandung, often referred to as the Indonesian El Clasico or the Old Indonesian Derby. Initially unfamiliar with the depth of this rivalry, Doll expressed intrigue and admiration for it upon hearing anecdotes from his coaching staff. “Yes, I heard about the Persija-Persib rivalry…it’s like a derby, I have to say,” said Doll, as quoted from Bolasport. “My local coaching staff told me about that.” Doll conveyed that the intense atmosphere stemming from the Persija-Persib rivalry surpasses that which he experienced during his tenure in European football. Through his extensive experience in European competitions and matches, he has partaken in several significant derbies, including the Revierderby (Dortmund vs. Schalke 04), the Hamburg Derby (Hamburg vs. St. Pauli), the Rome Derby (AS Roma vs. Lazio), the Budapest Derby (Ferencvaros vs. Ujpest), and the Nicosia Derby (APOEL vs. Omonia). “It’s like a European rivalry…it’s not like you just came to the stadium on the bus; there’s a lot of emotion involved in it,” stated Doll. “I’ve experienced derbies in Hamburg, in Rome, also the matches between Dortmund and Schalke… and the Persija-Persib rivalry can hold a candle to those matches. All of them are important matches, a huge mix of emotion and passion…your heart can get involved in it but you need to think intelligently too.”
The Persija-Persib rivalry is one of the most significant and passionate football rivalries in Indonesia, often termed the Indonesian El Clasico. This fierce competition not only encapsulates the sports culture in Indonesia but also showcases the deep emotional ties and regional pride associated with the two clubs. Thomas Doll, a seasoned manager with a rich history in European football, recently joined Persija Jakarta and has drawn comparisons between this local rivalry and those he has witnessed in Europe, which adds an intriguing layer to the ongoing narrative surrounding Indonesian football.
In conclusion, Thomas Doll’s insights on the Persija-Persib rivalry underscore its fervor and significance, likening it to some of the most renowned rivalries in Europe. His experiences as a manager provide a credible perspective on the emotional intensity and passion that characterize this derby, suggesting that it stands as a monumental fixture in Indonesian football.
Original Source: football-tribe.com
Leave a Reply