Isenmulang FC Stuck at the Bottom of the Table, Mundari Karya Highlights Two Crucial Weaknesses

Isenmulang Kalteng FC have yet to find any light at the end of the tunnel in the 2026/2027 BRI Super League. Hosting Persebaya Surabaya at Stadion Sumpah Pemuda, Bandar Lampung, on Friday (9/10/2026) evening WIB, Laskar Tambun Bungai had to concede their opponents' superiority in a narrow 0-1 defeat. Persebaya's only goal came from the penalty spot, converted by Alex just before the half-time break. The loss was the promoted side's fourth in a row, underlining their position at the bottom of the table without a single point.

Even so, coach Mundari Karya chose to highlight the positives from his players' performance. According to him, there was a significant difference in determination compared with the previous three matches against Arema FC, Bali United, and Bhayangkara FC. "It was a pretty good match, I think. If we compare it with the previous three games, today there was a difference in how the players were determined to play well and go for the win," Mundari Karya said in the post-match press conference.

While praising the hard work of Kenji Nishioka and his teammates, Mundari Karya did not turn a blind eye to the two fundamental weaknesses still plaguing his team. First, the transition when facing opponents' counter-attacks. He admitted to having worked on an anticipation pattern over the past two weeks, but Persebaya were able to read the plan. "In the past two weeks we actually worked a lot on our attacking play, especially when we launch counter-attacks. Today we wanted to see that, but Persebaya also anticipated it, so our chances to counter-attack were indeed limited," he explained.

Second, the finishing problem, which is still seen as the main weak point. According to the coach who played for the Indonesia national team in the 1980s, his players often struggle to convert chances into goals. "But once again, one of our players' weaknesses is finishing. So the final ball is also a note for me," he stressed. This evaluation is crucial given that Isenmulang FC must bounce back soon if they do not want to sink deeper into the relegation zone.

On the other hand, Isenmulang FC's situation is also affected by non-technical factors. The club from Palangkaraya cannot yet use Stadion Tuah Pahoe as their home ground because of the forest and land fires (karhutla) still affecting several areas in Kalimantan. As a result, they have to play home matches in Bandar Lampung, which is geographically far from their supporter base and reduces the advantage of playing in front of their own fans. This condition adds psychological and logistical burdens for a team experiencing top-flight competition for the first time.

For Persebaya Surabaya, this win is valuable capital to maintain momentum in the upper reaches of the table. Alex's penalty goal proved the effectiveness of the counter-attacking play they designed, while also showing the depth of the Bajul Ijo squad in dealing with pressure from the home side. Meanwhile, Isenmulang FC still have to fight hard to climb out of their slump. With four straight defeats, the pressure is mounting for Mundari Karya and his players.

Looking ahead, the big question is whether Isenmulang FC can turn things around before the points gap widens further. A packed schedule awaits, and every match will be a tough test. If Mundari Karya's two main evaluations — defensive transition and finishing — are not addressed soon, it is not impossible that this promoted team will sink even deeper at the bottom of the table. The people of Palangkaraya certainly hope for a miracle, but in football, miracles only come to those who are truly ready.