Football life in Indonesia continues to get tougher for Liberian international defender Dirkir Glay, whose Persiba Balikpapan club has endured a difficult start to the 2016 Indonesia Soccer Championship.
From the first seven rounds of matches, Balikpapan has been able to grab only one win, two draws, and suffered four defeats. They kicked off the 2016 league season with a 2-0 defeat away at Arema Cronus before playing to a scoreless draw with Sriwijaya Football Club.
Their poor form continued in the third round of matches following a narrow 1-0 loss to Pusamania Borneo but later secured a 1-1 draw at home against Persiba Bandung in their next match.
Fortunately for Balikpapan, they were able to get their first full three points of the league season against a struggling Bali United before the just ended FIFA international break.
Balikpapan returned from the break with a 3-1 loss to Eric Weeks’ Madura United in matchday six of the 2016 Indonesia Soccer Championship.
With five points obtained from a possible eighteen, Balikpapan desperately needed a win in their seventh game of the season against fellow Liberian Abel Gabor’s club, Bhayangkara Surabaya United.
A win would have seen them move above the relegation zone with eight points, but they again failed to win at home, as they bowed to a 2-0 to the visitors.
Goals from Indonesian midfielder Muhammad Hargianto in the 85th minute and a stoppage time strike from 21-year old Indonesian forward, Evan Dimas Darmono were enough to deny Glay and his men the opportunity of getting any point at home.
Despite the defeat, Balikpapan remains 16th on the league table with five points, two above 17th and 18th placed Indonesia Arm Forces Football Club and Persela Lamongan.
Featured photo courtesy of Dirkir Glay
