Bogor – The figure of Ismed Sofyan is strongly synonymous with the position of a tough right-back possessing deadly free-kick accuracy. Yet, who would have thought that the career journey of this Football Legend actually began with Badminton and purely as a center striker?
These surprising facts were revealed exclusively in an episode of the Itsme Podcast hosted by Syafira and Gilang Respaty. In a warm atmosphere in the Sentul area of Bogor, Ismed candidly shared the Story of his arduous past, from his hometown in Aceh to successfully breaking into the tough squad of the Indonesian National Team.
The Career Journey of the Legend:
READ ALSO
Persija hasn't thought about Persib yet, Mauricio Souza emphasizes full focus on Persijap Jepara.
Ismed Sofyan Reveals Trauma from Opponent Fans' Kicks to Baracuda Truck in Persija vs Persib Match
Ismed Sofyan nearly joined Sriwijaya FC in 2013, but chose loyalty to Persija based on his mother's advice.
Not Football, But Directed Towards Badminton
Ismed's childhood in Aceh did not formally involve Football right away. He recounted that his late parents initially directed him towards playing Badminton. Nevertheless, his love for the round ball was unstoppable.
Young Ismed preferred gathering with his village friends to play barefoot football in the rice fields. His passion for football was so strong that he even enticed his friends with syrup treats at his house just so they would gather and play football together.
The 16 Kilometer Journey and the Soccer School Misconception
Ismed admitted he was quite late in encountering structured football education. He only entered a Soccer School (SSB) when he reached junior high school. His struggle wasn't easy; he had to Travel 16 kilometers from his village to the city using public minibuses.
There's a funny story from this phase, where Ismed once thought that joining an SSB meant he had to quit regular school. It was a misconception that was eventually corrected when he learned the SSB training schedule could run alongside his formal education.
Seeking Fortune at PPLP Medan for His Family
A turning point in Ismed's career came when his SSB coach moved to Medan and invited him to try out for the Student Education and Training Center (PPLP) selection. Competing against about 100 children from various regions, Ismed, with steely determination, succeeded in being one of the 24 players accepted.
More than just chasing dreams on the green field, Ismed's acceptance into PPLP had a major impact on his family's finances as he received free boarding, schooling, and even pocket money. During this period, Ismed still played purely as a striker.
Dominating the Asian Student Championship Stage
The rigorous training and extra workload at the PPLP Medan training camp paid off sweetly. His abilities as a striker continued to be honed until he was selected to represent the Asian student team.
Ismed proved his sharpness at the international level by leading his team to victory in a tournament held in Malaysia in 1996, followed by a third-place finish in a similar tournament in India in 1997. This achievement made him increasingly recognized and a regular at training camps in Ragunan.
The Touch of a German Coach and the Birth of a Tough Indonesian Defender
The biggest transformative moment that changed Ismed's life path occurred when he was called up to the National Team, then managed by German coach Bernhard Schumm.
In a trial match, surprisingly, Schumm pulled Ismed's position from the front line (striker) to make him a defender. His reasoning was simple yet instinctive: Schumm felt Ismed's playing style was very similar to that of German National Team Legend Christian Ziege.
This bold decision by the coach became the starting point of his evolution in the defensive line. Though initially awkward, the German coach's touch proved prescient before he was eventually cemented and became legendary as one of the best right-backs Indonesia has ever had.
