Persija Back to the Top Again: After Beating Persebaya, Shin Tae-yong Reveals Players' Health Problems

Persija Jakarta head coach Shin Tae-yong has revealed that a number of his key players are suffering health issues ahead of the match against Persebaya Surabaya in the ninth matchweek of the 2026/2027 Super League.

This condition meant that Macan Kemayoran was unable to field several players for the fixture held at the Jakarta International Stadium (JIS), Jakarta on Saturday, 7 November 2026.

Shin Tae-yong stated that around three to four Persija players have contracted influenza. This situation has significantly disrupted the team's preparations, particularly in finalising the starting line-up to face Persebaya.

"Around three to four of our players are down with flu," Shin Tae-yong stated during the post-match press conference held at Jakarta International Stadium (JIS), Jakarta on Saturday.

Among the players affected by health issues are Radovan Pankov and Victor Dethan. Both players missed training sessions for several days, only returning to practice one day prior to the match.

Forward Alexander Jeremejeff also suffered the same problem. The striker remained unwell with flu and was unable to join training sessions, nor was he available to feature for Persija against Persebaya.

Notably, Shin Tae-yong himself also experienced the same health issue. The South Korean head coach confirmed he had previously contracted flu which required hospital treatment in the lead-up to the match.

This situation forced Persija to make adjustments in their attacking line. Ivan Mamut was one of the players required to put in extra work, playing the full 90 minutes due to the limited available player options.

Despite not being at peak physical condition, the Croatian striker ended up being Persija's match winner. Ivan Mamut's 90th minute goal secured all three points for Macan Kemayoran, who clinched a narrow 1-0 victory over Persebaya.

Shin Tae-yong Highlights JIS Pitch Quality Issues

Despite Persija Jakarta's victory, Shin Tae-yong also delivered his assessment regarding the condition of the Jakarta International Stadium playing surface.

According to the coach, the quality of the grass pitch at JIS is not yet adequate to support optimal player performance. He noted this condition impacted the flow of the match, even though Persija ultimately came away with the win.

Shin also added that Ivan Mamut actually possesses the quality to deliver an even greater contribution, however the poor pitch condition prevented the striker from performing at his full ability.

"Well, only once the pitch is in good condition can the players also put on their best performance to entertain the supporters," he stated.

Shin Tae-yong has called on the Jakarta International Stadium management to carry out improvements to the pitch grass quality. He wants the stadium conditions upgraded so that Persija can put out maximum performances for their upcoming home matches.

This assessment is a key point of concern for Persija, as pitch quality is one of the critical factors that can impact team performance, especially when competing in high-intensity competitions such as the Super League.