One Road Less Travelled

A Persiram home game should be one the most eagerly awaited on the football calender. They hail from Raja Ampat, pristine islands off the coast of Papua far, far to the east of Java's urban and industrial sprawl.

The team however won't be playing their home games within yards of azure waters lapping white sands. Instead they are going to use the Surajaya Stadium in the decidedly less pleasing Lamongan as their home stadium in the Indonesia Super League this season.

I understand Persela's home ground was chosen after attempts to use Lebak Bulus in Jakarta were turned down. That stadium is due to be demolished to make way for a depot for a planned rail network which may or may not get off the ground.