Fragile Persebaya, Kendal Tornado Eye Upset in 2026/2027 League Cup
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- Persebaya Surabaya akan menghadapi Kendal Tornado pada laga perdana League Cup 2026/2027 di Stadion Sriwedari, Solo, Selasa (3/11/2026).
- Kendal Tornado diperkuat sejumlah eks pemain Persebaya, termasuk Rizky Dwi Pangestu, Akbar Firmansyah, dan Andre Oktaviansyah, plus pelatih Stefan Keeltjes yang juga pernah berseragam Bajul Ijo.
- Rizky mengaku termotivasi untuk membuktikan kualitasnya dan bertekad membawa Tornado meraih tiga poin pertama, sementara Persebaya tengah dalam tekanan suporter.
Persebaya Surabaya enter the opening match of the 2026/2027 League Cup under heavy pressure. Traveling to Kendal Tornado's home at Stadion Sriwedari, Solo, on Tuesday (3/11/2026), the team coached by Bernardo Tavares faces not only an opponent on the rise but also a number of players who once wore the Bajul Ijo shirt and are now eager to prove themselves.
Kendal Tornado, who last season were title challengers in the second tier, are now strengthened by Rizky Dwi Pangestu, Akbar Firmansyah, and Andre Oktaviansyah—three names who previously played for Persebaya. Interestingly, Tornado's coach, Stefan Keeltjes, is also a Surabaya native who played for Persebaya during his active career. The meeting is a reunion for both sides, but also a stage for the former players to show that Persebaya's decision to let them go may have been a mistake.
Rizky Dwi Pangestu, a 27-year-old striker from Banyuwangi, left Persebaya only at the end of last season. He played for Bajul Ijo for 1.5 seasons before being loaned to Garudayaksa in the second round of the 2025/2026 season. His contract ended in mid-2026, and he chose to continue his career in the 2026/2027 Pegadaian Championship with Kendal Tornado. Now, he will face his former club for the first time.
"I'm very happy to meet Persebaya again. Especially since I was there before. There will definitely be special preparation, especially after finding out we're in the same group as Persebaya, I always add to my training load. My motivation is high to perform at my best against them," Rizky told Bola.com on Sunday (1/11/2026).
Rizky revealed that coach Stefan Keeltjes specifically asked the former Persebaya players to show their quality. "The coach suggested to players like me and Akbar that we show Persebaya that we also deserve to play there," he added.
Although he now wears the Tornado shirt, Rizky still follows Persebaya's progress. He has even watched matches live at the stadium when in Surabaya. He is also aware of supporter protests against the team and coach Bernardo Tavares over poor performances in the BRI Super League. "When I'm in Surabaya, I watch directly at the stadium. I still follow Persebaya's progress," he said.
Facing Persebaya, Rizky does not deny that his status as a former player is extra motivation. He is determined to lead Kendal Tornado to their first three points in the League Cup. "Our way of playing is almost the same as Persebaya. Maybe we are the underdogs, but we have high motivation against a top-tier team," he said.
Kendal Tornado are no ordinary team. Since last season, they have consistently been title challengers in the second tier and remain strong candidates for promotion to the BRI Super League next season. Under Stefan Keeltjes, Tornado's performances have been impressive. Against a fragile Persebaya, they have a strong chance to steal all three points and embarrass the elite side.
On the other hand, Persebaya arrive with a psychological burden. Pressure from supporters disappointed with the team's performances in the BRI Super League has heated up the club's internal situation. The match against Tornado could be a chance for Tavares and his players to bounce back, or it could backfire if they fail to get a positive result.
The big question: will Persebaya's former players prove that management's decision to let them go was a blunder, or will Persebaya show their class as a top-tier team? The answer will be seen on the pitch on Tuesday.
