Bogor - Persib Bandung secured this season's championship hat-trick through a far more gruelling campaign compared to all previous seasons. Football analyst Erwin Fitriansyah confirmed this title was fully earned, achieved amid tight competition against top-table sides Borneo and Persija, who applied consistent pressure right through the final critical matchweeks.
"Unlike last season when Persib had already sealed the title with three matches still left to play, the mathematical title race remained open until the very end this time. Persib deserve this trophy because they successfully withstood that relentless pressure," stated Erwin during the tactical breakdown of the defending champions.
Sharing this view, fellow football analyst Ronny "Bung Ropan" Pangemanan singled out the unbreakable winning mentality within head coach Bojan Hodak's squad as the undisputed core factor behind their success. He noted Persib's clear turning point came when they pulled off sensational comeback victories after falling behind against both Dewa United and Bhayangkara FC. The title was ultimately confirmed with a 0-0 Draw in their final fixture against Persijap Jepara; Persib dominated all attacking play, only to be repeatedly denied by an exceptional performance from the opposition Goalkeeper.
READ ALSO
Ropan's Analysis: The 7-9-11 Rule Boosts Indonesian Super League Quality Improvement
Persib Secures Hat-Trick Championship: Bobotoh Fans' Chants and Roars Resound Non-Stop Throughout the GBLA Stadium.
Persib's Secret to the Super League Champion Hat-trick, Bojan Hodak: Defence is the Key!
This tactical analysis of Bojan Hodak's successful system, which effectively compensated for the departure of the club's former star goalscorer, was the focus of the latest episode of ITSMe Podcast recorded 24 May 2026. During the interactive discussion hosted live by Gilang Respaty and Yatna from the ITSMe studio in Sentul, Bogor, both analysts agreed on the squad's standout performers. They unanimously named Thom Haye and Barba as the two most central pillars of the team this season.
During the conversation, Thom Haye was recognised as the on-pitch "brain" of the side, brilliantly controlling midfield tempo with consistent energy for the full 90 minutes every match. Meanwhile Italian defender Barba received widespread praise: not only did he anchor the back line reliably, he also proved remarkably productive, scoring decisive match-winning goals with the clinical edge of a striker.
Looking ahead to next season, the true test awaiting Persib's management will be proving their credentials at Asian continental competition level. Closing the discussion at the ITSMe headquarters, Erwin emphasised that the attacking line of "Maung Bandung" must be upgraded immediately. Alongside prioritising contract extensions for Bojan Hodak and all key players, Persib was advised to aggressively recruit a clinical foreign striker with finishing ability matching David Da Silva at his peak, or pursue high profile rumoured transfer targets including Mariano Peralta and Aymen Hussein.
