Persebaya marks 99th anniversary with PSIS friendly, tributes to fallen figures

Persebaya Surabaya held its 99th anniversary friendly against PSIS Semarang on 19 July 2026, ending in a 2-2 draw at Stadion Gelora Bung Tomo. The match featured tributes to club legends Andi Peci and Eri Irianto, with players wearing black armbands and a video tribute shown to honour their contributions to Persebaya's history.

Quick Facts

99th anniversary friendly match
Pre-season warm-up fixture
Tributes to Andi Peci and Eri Irianto
Black armbands worn by players
Video tribute shown on large screen

Persebaya Surabaya celebrated its 99th anniversary on Sunday, 19 July 2026 with a pre-season friendly against PSIS Semarang at Stadion Gelora Bung Tomo in Surabaya. The match, kicked off at 15:30 WIB and broadcast on Indosiar, ended in a 2-2 draw.

The fixture served as more than a routine warm-up match. Players wore black armbands throughout, and a large-screen tribute video was shown after the match honouring two significant figures in Persebaya's history: Andi Peci, a key figure in the club's revival after its previous difficulties, and Eri Irianto, a legendary midfielder from the late 1990s. One minute of silence was also observed for Andi Peci. The club wore retro-style kits for the occasion, reinforcing the historical significance of the anniversary.

Francisco Rivera, Persebaya's attacking midfielder, described the match as an important opportunity for the squad's new players and youth talents to showcase their development during pre-season preparation. Persebaya had recruited 11 new players this off-season, including Ramadhan Sananta, Alex Martins, Yuran Fernandes, Miguel Pereira, Walber Motta, and Yann Mabella, among others. Rivera stated that the atmosphere created by Bonek and Bonita supporters would help new players adapt more quickly to the club.

Rachmat Irianto, a Persebaya player, expressed gratitude to Andi Peci for his role in bringing Persebaya back to Indonesian league competition. Irianto also clarified a long-standing misconception about his surname, stating that "Irianto" comes from his mother's family line, not from his father's relationship with the legendary Eri Irianto, though he acknowledged the common assumption among supporters. He noted the 2-2 result as an opportunity for evaluation before the upcoming Piala Presiden 2026 pre-tournament.

Historically, opponents who face Persebaya in anniversary friendlies have often achieved promotion to higher divisions: PSIS Semarang in 2017, PSS Sleman in the same year, and Persis Solo in 2020 all advanced after playing Persebaya in similar fixtures. Persebaya is targeting the Super League 2026-2027 championship in its centennial year.

Topics

Sports

#anniversary match #PSIS Semarang #super league #tribute #Andi Peci #pre-season friendly #Persebaya Surabaya #Indonesian football #Eri Irianto

Entities

Why This Matters

Persebaya Surabaya, one of Indonesia's oldest football clubs, marked its 99th anniversary with a competitive pre-season fixture and formal tributes to departed club figures. The match served as measurable evaluation for the club's 11 new player signings ahead of the 2026–2027 Super League season, with the draw allowing coaching staff to assess squad integration. The friendly also contextualizes Persebaya's stated championship target for its centennial year (2027) within the competitive Indonesian football calendar and pre-tournament preparation cycle.

Timeline & Sources

Jul 11, 2026

Wire

Persebaya begins pre-season training under Bernardo Tavares

Jul 11, 2026

Wire

PSIS Semarang begins pre-season training under Widodo C Putro

Jul 19, 2026

Wire

Video tribute to Andi Peci and Eri Irianto shown on stadium screen

Jul 19, 2026

Wire

Persebaya vs PSIS Semarang 99th Anniversary Game kicks off at Stadion Gelora Bung Tomo