Kendal Tornado FC: The Unbeaten Promoted Side and a Real Threat to Top-Flight Clubs

Kendal Tornado FC have proven that second-tier status is no barrier to competing with elite teams. In the League Cup 2026/2027 match on Tuesday (3/11/2026), the club nicknamed Laskar Badai Pantura defeated Persebaya Surabaya 3-2 after falling behind first. The win is a strong signal that the Central Java side are not merely making up the numbers in the competition but seriously threatening the dominance of BRI Super League clubs.

The result is rare. In the same competition, most second-tier contestants fell when facing top-flight representatives. Only Persela Lamongan also claimed three points, and that was against Persijap Jepara, who are currently languishing at the bottom of the BRI Super League table. Kendal Tornado FC are an anomaly because they managed to beat a team of Persebaya's caliber, a club with a big tradition and strong squad depth.

Throughout the Pegadaian Championship 2026/2027, Kendal Tornado FC's form has been consistent. Of the eight matches played, they have recorded four wins and four draws without a single defeat. That record should be enough to collect 16 points, but a one-point deduction sanction over club licensing issues has slightly trimmed their tally. Nevertheless, their position in the upper reaches of the East Group remains intact, in close competition with Persela Lamongan and Barito Putera.

The key to Kendal Tornado FC's success lies in the deft touch of coach Stefan Keeltjes. He chose to retain last season's squad core, so the chemistry between players was built from the start. Names such as Try Hamdani, Agung Prasetyo, Dimas Sukarno, Akbar Firmansyah, Ibnu Hajar, Ryan Apriyanto, Yudha Alkanza, and foreign striker Patrick Cruz remain the backbone. Interestingly, Ryan Apriyanto is the only remaining player who helped take the club up from the third tier in 2024/2025.

To complete the squad, the management brought in young players who now represent the Indonesia U-20 national team, such as Irpan Siregar, Er Deva Aulia, and Ousmane Camara. All three are regular starters to meet the youth-player regulation. The depth of the bench is also beyond doubt. There is a string of names experienced in the top flight such as Syaeful Anwar, Birrul Walidain, Fatchu Rochman, Fredyan Wahyu, Andre Oktaviansyah, Rizky Dwi, and Rifal Lastori ready to make an impact.

Facilities are another differentiator. Despite competing in the second tier, Kendal Tornado FC have a modern training center called Charlie Sport Center in Limbangan, Kendal. The complex includes training pitches, a gym, a futsal court, and even a badminton court, plus a players' dormitory in one area. This infrastructure is the fruit of investment by club owner Junianto, or Ebes Anto, a businessman from Kendal previously known as a PSIS Semarang shareholder. Before being acquired, the club was named Tornado FC Pekanbaru.

"Consistency is key, but the biggest challenge is maintaining momentum until the end of the season," said a national football observer, responding to Kendal Tornado FC's performance.

However, there is one piece of homework that must be addressed immediately: the effectiveness of the foreign players. Of the three imports, only Patrick Cruz has truly contributed with three goals and four assists. The other two, Diego Dalloca and Yushi Yamaya, have spent more time in the treatment room due to injuries. This situation opens the door for the management to overhaul the foreign-player composition in the next transfer window, to fill the gap left by those two players.

With impressive form, squad stability, and first-class facility support as their capital, Kendal Tornado FC deserve consideration as serious promotion candidates. If they can maintain the positive trend and recruit foreign players wisely, it is not impossible that Laskar Badai Pantura will compete in the top flight next season. Indonesian football fans are also waiting to see whether this surprise continues until the end of the season.