PSIM and PSS Struggle at the Start of BRI Super League: Two DIY Sides in the Red Zone
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- PSIM Yogyakarta dan PSS Sleman sama-sama belum meraih kemenangan dalam tiga laga pembuka BRI Super League 2026/2027, dengan PSIM mengoleksi satu poin dan PSS tanpa poin.
- Kedua tim diperkuat pelatih asal Belanda, namun racikan taktik mereka belum mampu mengangkat performa tim, sementara seluruh gol yang dicetak berasal dari pemain asing.
- Jeda FIFA Matchday menjadi momen krusial bagi kedua klub untuk melakukan evaluasi menyeluruh sebelum kompetisi kembali bergulir bulan depan.
PSIM Yogyakarta and PSS Sleman both made a poor start to the BRI Super League 2026/2027. After three matches, PSIM sit 14th with one point, while PSS are 15th without a single point. The results are a heavy blow for the two representatives of the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY), who had hoped to compete in the middle of the table from the start of the season.
PSS entered the competition as a promoted team after winning the Pegadaian Championship 2025/2026, while PSIM are in their second season in the top flight. Both are entrusted to Dutch coaches: Jean-Paul van Gastel at PSIM and Pieter Huistra at PSS. Van Gastel, now in his second year, previously led Laskar Mataram to an 11th-place finish with 45 points. As for Huistra, who has been in charge of PSS since 2024/2025, last season he served as Technical Director when Super Elang Jawa finished as Championship runners-up.
However, those expectations have yet to materialize. PSIM opened the league with a 1-1 draw against Persita Tangerang, then lost 0-1 to Persebaya Surabaya and 1-2 to Madura United. PSS are more concerning: beaten 1-2 by Bali United, thrashed 1-3 by Madura United, and defeated 1-2 by Dewa United. Disappointment has also surfaced among Sleman fans, who are demanding an immediate revival.
An interesting fact emerges from their goal production. PSIM scored two goals through Adrian Purzycki and Nermin Haljeta, while PSS netted three through Matheus Fornazari, Melvyn Lorenzen, and Christophe Nduwarugira. That means no local player has yet contributed a goal for either club. This highlights the reliance on foreign players in the attacking line, and is homework for both coaches to increase the contribution of domestic players.
For PSIM, the main problem lies in defensive consistency that leaks easily at crucial moments. PSS, meanwhile, face greater pressure because their promoted status demands quick adaptation. Huistra is judged to have yet to find his best back-line composition, evident from conceding six goals in three matches. On the other hand, Van Gastel is still searching for the right formula to optimize a blunt attack.
"We have to fix things immediately. Three matches without a win is not the start we wanted, but we will use this break for evaluation," said one club internal source, describing the pressure the team faces.
The BRI Super League 2026/2027 now enters an international break due to the FIFA Matchday agenda. This competition off-period is a golden opportunity for PSIM and PSS to fix their tactics, improve fitness, and restore the players' mentality. Both teams are scheduled to play again next month against opponents that are no less tough.
If they do not bounce back soon, it is not impossible that both DIY representatives will be dragged into the relegation vortex. Can Van Gastel and Huistra turn things around, or will the pressure only grow until their coaching seats become shaky?
