As the 2025–26 BRI Super League looms into view, PSBS Biak—the only Papuan club in Indonesia’s top flight—stands at a crossroads of identity, geography, and ambition. Nicknamed the “Pacific Typhoon” (Badai Pasifik), this team has transformed from underdogs to legitimate contenders. But can they stay true to their roots while overcoming being a perpetual traveler? Their journey is one of profound reinvention, unwavering focus, and cultural pride.
A Legacy Born by the Ocean
Founded on 12 December 1964, just a year after Persipura Jayapura, PSBS Biak carries a storied, if overlooked, Papua legacy. Based at the modest Cendrawasih Stadium (15,000 seats), located on Biak Numfor’s Pacific coast, the club’s supporters—Napi Bongkar—wear the sea air in their nickname: children ready to dismantle barriers with passion.
For years, PSBS lurked in Liga 2, overshadowed by Papua’s premier club, Persipura. But their breakthrough came in the 2023–24 Liga 2 campaign, where they stormed to the title with a crushing aggregate 6–0 win over Semen Padang across two legs (3–0 home, 3–0 away). Brazilian striker Alexsandro Perreira, with 19 goals, was twice honored as Top Scorer and Best Player—a signature moment of their promotion.
Debut Season: Sweet Rise, Bitter Lessons
In Liga 1’s 2024/25, PSBS debuted as the underdog. Initially forced to play out of province—they chose Bali as home base—they later shifted to Stadion Lukas Enembe in Jayapura in January 2025, after meeting league requirements. Despite staggering off‑pitch turmoil and a poor start in early 2025—with no wins over seven consecutive games—they rallied to finish ninth with 48 points: 14 wins, 9 draws, and 11 losses.
The team defied odds, fueled by their unbeaten run at the end of the season. Notable wins over Persija Jakarta and Persita Tangerang underscored their grit. Despite being a newly promoted side, the door was cracked open: they proved Liga 1 wasn’t too high.
From Momentum to Modest Ambition
With promotion secured and a debut season to build on, PSBS entered the 2025/26 off‑season more sober. Gone was the high‑spend, star‑chasing model. Gone were 30+ new signings. The club pivoted to stability, launching a 28‑player squad (mostly new faces, seven foreigners) at Sleman on 31 July 2025, signaling a mission to stay afloat rather than win it all.
Front and center is Portuguese coach Divaldo Alves, brought in April 2025 to steady the ship after a string of changes. He tempered expectations from day one: “The main goal is to avoid relegation. Personally, I’d push for Top 10. But we must do justice to the reality of our squad.” Alves, known for structured, disciplined systems, added: “We don’t aim for elegant football—just honest, united effort. That will surprise people.”
The Traveler Reality: Making Sleman Homebase
PSBS Biak once again returns to musafir status—playing “homebase” matches far from their Papua heartland. Stadion Maguwoharjo in Sleman, Yogyakarta, is their designated home ground for the season, with Sultan Agung Stadium in Bantul as backup if needed. The move comes amid infrastructure limitations in Biak; Cendrawasih Stadium fails to meet Super League capacity and facility standards.
Still, the move has local blessing. Deputy Regent Jimmy Carter Rumbarar Kapissa and manager Yan Artinus Mbaro both underscored that PSBS remains Biak’s pride no matter where they play—pledging to bring Papua’s spirit to Sleman’s stands.
Yan put it plainly: “We’ll play wherever. The key is performing with talent and readiness—home or away. Our squad blends old and new; we have one more foreign signing pending.”
Squad Composition & Mental Edge
While building blocks may be modest, mentality is not. PSBS’s new group is built around Papuan core local players supported by foreign recruits and guided by Alves’s pragmatism. Local stalwarts like Andre Oktaviansyah, Nurhidayat Haris, and Ilham Udin Armaiyn bring top‑level experience. Foreign additions include Hwang Myung‑hyun (South Korea) and Sandro Embalo (Portugal), while another import is set to join to round out a 29‑player pool.
Alves has emphasized team chemistry as the bedrock: “Almost all players are new. We’ll need about a month to gel. Training and team bonding are essential.” His message is clear: no stars, no excuses—just discipline, clarity, and unity.
Financial Stability: No More Paying Debts
Financial turbulence marred PSBS’s first Liga 1 campaign—reports of unpaid wages threatened morale mid‑season. Thankfully, those issues have been resolved before the new campaign. Though details remain private, internal sources confirm all outstanding salaries from the previous season have been settled, ensuring focus is now solely on football.
Backing has also stabilized. While earlier seasons saw external funds from PT Freeport Indonesia and Bank Papua fuel operations, the new model is more deliberate. Sponsorship remains, but recruitment is streamlined and sustainable.
Goals for the Season: Realistic but Proud
Heading into the 2025/26 BRI Super League, PSBS Biak’s ambitions are refreshingly grounded—not clouded by glamour or grandeur, but guided by pragmatism and principle. After a respectable ninth-place finish in their debut Liga 1 season, many outsiders might expect the club to aim higher. Yet head coach Divaldo Alves has made it clear from the outset: survival comes first. Avoiding relegation is the club’s baseline objective, a strategic acknowledgment of the evolving squad, reduced resources, and ongoing challenges of playing away from home.
That’s not to say the club lacks ambition. Alves has quietly set his sights on replicating last season’s top-10 finish, believing that with the right structure, cohesion, and execution, PSBS could again outperform expectations. While they may not have the star power of bigger clubs like Persib Bandung or Bali United, what PSBS Biak does possess is intangible yet powerful—mental toughness, deep unity, and the indomitable spirit of Papua.
Perhaps the most unique part of PSBS Biak’s season plan is their attempt to turn a disadvantage into an asset. With home matches once again played in Stadion Maguwoharjo in Sleman, Yogyakarta, far from the club’s true base in Biak Numfor, the team remains in “musafir” status—nomads of the league. Yet the coaching staff and players have pledged to treat the Sleman stadium as a fortress, cultivating an atmosphere that welcomes all but defeats most. In Alves’s own words, “If we execute our plan with discipline and mentality, we can surprise again.” And if last season taught us anything, it’s that PSBS Biak is not a team that minds being underestimated.
Why This Story Matters: Lessons in Identity, Adaptation & Resilience
PSBS Biak’s presence in the BRI Super League is more than just a football narrative—it is a story of cultural pride, defiance against limitations, and the power of regional representation in a national landscape. This is not merely a team from Papua playing top-tier football. This is Papua’s voice, amplified through 90 minutes of effort each week, carrying the hopes of a region often marginalized in national discourse.
At the heart of this story lies community identity. For fans of PSBS Biak—many of whom are part of the fierce and loyal Napi Bongkar supporter group—the club is more than a logo or matchday activity. It is a symbol of existence. In a league where economic strength often defines success, PSBS reminds the country that heart, unity, and grit can still make waves—big ones.
The club’s success is also a triumph of resourcefulness. With far fewer financial advantages than many of its Liga 1 rivals, PSBS has proven that clear planning, wise talent acquisition, and strong leadership can be just as effective as a bloated transfer budget. From their streamlined recruitment this season to the methodical leadership of Divaldo Alves, everything is intentional, lean, and driven by purpose.
And perhaps most poignantly, PSBS Biak’s journey is a study in adaptation. Stripped of a true home base due to stadium limitations, they have wandered across provinces for years. But instead of allowing that to fracture their identity, they’ve embraced the role—carrying their Papuan roots with them wherever they go, from Bali to Jayapura to Sleman. That adaptability—both physical and emotional—is a rare kind of strength in modern football.
As football development in the eastern regions of Indonesia continues to lag behind, PSBS Biak offers a powerful example of what’s possible. They are, in many ways, pioneers. Their resilience stands not only as a competitive achievement but also as a social and cultural reminder that representation matters and that perseverance from the margins can still shape the center.
Conclusion
PSBS Biak’s story in the 2025/26 BRI Super League is not just a tale of a football team preparing for another season—it’s a compelling narrative of resilience, identity, and quiet determination. As the only Papuan club in Indonesia’s top division, they carry the hopes of an entire region often left on the sidelines of national attention. Despite limited resources, no permanent home stadium, and a modest squad, PSBS chooses to compete with honesty, grit, and unity.
Their goals may be realistic—avoiding relegation and aiming for a top-10 finish—but the deeper victory lies in how they represent Papua on a national stage. They show that football isn’t only about money or prestige; it’s also about spirit, discipline, and purpose. PSBS Biak may be far from home, but their roots remain strong—and their storm is still gathering.
In a league often driven by commercial interests, PSBS Biak stands as proof that passion and purpose can still carve out space at the top. Their journey is a powerful reminder that where you come from matters—but how you carry it forward matters even more.