BANDUNG —–— Soccer has once again found its role as a space for empathy, collaboration, and caring. Caring for others is a value that PERSIB and the Indonesian Professional Players Association (APPI) continue to uphold. This was demonstrated through a charity event titled “From Soccer for Sumatra.” The event, held at Padel Plush in Bandung on Friday (January 9, 2026), emerged from a spirit of togetherness to share and show solidarity with brothers and sisters in Aceh and Sumatra who are facing difficult times.
Through a series of programs involving players, management, the community, and the media, PERSIB managed to raise a total of IDR 132,969,000 in donations to help communities affected by disasters in Aceh and Sumatra. This total came from public donations through the PERSIB App amounting to IDR 92,469,000 and the proceeds from jersey auctions amounting to IDR 40,500,000.
In addition to material donations, PERSIB also collected aid from various communities in the form of wearable clothing, which is ready to be sent to disaster-affected areas in Sumatra.
During the auction, six exclusive jerseys attracted the enthusiasm of participants. These included Indonesian National Team jerseys belonging to Thom Haye, Beckham Putra Nugraha, Marc Klok, and Eliano Reijnders, as well as two PERSIB jerseys belonging to Firman Utina (2015 Presidential Cup) and Henhen Herdiana (2025/2026 season).
All donations collected during this series of activities were distributed through Dompet Dhuafa, a national humanitarian organization that has long been trusted and known for its credible track record in managing and distributing humanitarian aid.
Read also: Collaboration between Dompet Dhuafa and PERSIB Bandung Sharing Kindness
At that moment, Dompet Dhuafa was represented by Yogi Achmad Fajar as the Head of Dompet Dhuafa West Java Branch. Through Dompet Dhuafa’s role as a distributor, PERSIB ensured that donations were delivered appropriately, transparently, and had a real impact on communities affected by disasters in Aceh and Sumatra.
In addition to fundraising, the event also featured a blood donation program and health checks, including blood pressure, blood sugar, and uric acid tests, with support from Hasan Sadikin General Hospital. The presence of these services reinforced the value of caring, which is not only financial but also touches on humanitarian aspects directly.
Deputy CEO of PT PERSIB Bandung Bermartabat, Adhitia Putra Herawan, explained that this activity is part of PERSIB’s commitment to continue to be present with the community in difficult times.
“Previously, PERSIB had raised funds through the club’s official online fundraising platform. However, we wanted to have a kind of gong at the end, a closing moment that could mobilize more donations,” he said.
He added that the collaboration with APPI was born out of a spirit of togetherness across the football ecosystem.
“This inspiration came from our friends at I League, who previously held Football for Humanity in Sumatra. From there, we wanted to bring something similar to Bandung, with a more intimate and familial atmosphere,” he continued.
Read also: New Year, New Hope: Dompet Dhuafa Builds 1,000 RUMTARA for Sumatra Survivors
The event was enlivened by the presence of a number of former players such as Atep, Tantan, Zaenal Arif, and Arilangga, who took part in fun padel with the journalists. Their presence added to the warm atmosphere and strengthened the sense of togetherness across generations.
Appreciation also came from the General Manager of Fans Engagement and Experience I League, Budiman Dalimunthe. He considered the activity to be a positive initiative and worthy of inspiration.
“PERSIB is extraordinary because its management is directly involved. We hope that activities like this can inspire other clubs in Indonesia,” he said.
Meanwhile, APPI representative Achmad Jufriyanto expressed his gratitude to all parties who supported the event.
“Thank you to the management of PT PERSIB Bandung Bermartabat, our friends in the press, the supporter community, and all those who contributed. No matter how small the assistance provided, we hope it can ease the burden of our brothers and sisters in Aceh and Sumatra,” he said.
PERSIB also expressed its highest appreciation to all Bobotoh who participated and donated to the PERSIB Donation for Sumatra program through the PERSIB App throughout December 2025. This program is part of the #PERSIBKanAkhirTahunMu campaign, an invitation to end the year with concrete actions of sharing and caring.
This movement has become a symbol of collective kindness, where Bobotoh are invited to stand together, unite in empathy, and channel aid through simple but meaningful steps. In line with the spirit of togetherness that has been built throughout the activities, PERSIB has undertaken this journey of caring together with Bobotoh and all parties involved.
From direct participation, cross-community collaboration, to donations flowing in through various channels, football once again becomes a space for mutual support. Off the field, it is these simple steps taken together that give more meaning, bring hope, and affirm that togetherness is always the foundation of every PERSIB movement. (Dompet Dhuafa)
Text and photos: DD Jabar, Bani Kiswanto
Editor: Ronna