Football West, Persebaya Surabaya sign three-year exchange agreement
Football West and Persebaya Surabaya FC are thrilled to announce they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the next three years.
Football West CEO Jamie Harnwell and Persebaya Surabaya CEO Azrul Ananda signed the agreement in the office of Western Australia Sport and Recreation Minister David Templeman.
The MoU is a talent development and exchange program between football’s governing body in Western Australia and the top-flight Indonesian professional club. There are already plans for a visit to WA next year from the Persebaya senior side who currently sit top of Liga 1.
The agreement will strengthen ties between WA and East Java through sporting and cultural exchange trips in playing, coaching, refereeing, administration and other football activities.
The relationship between Football West and Persebaya Surabaya began in 2018, when the Indonesian club brought a youth team to Perth for a three-match tour. A year later, Football West took an Under 19 State side to Surabaya for a similarly successful visit.
Plans to extend the partnership were put on hold due to the Covid epidemic, and both parties are now excited to pick up where they left off.
Mr Harnwell said: “Football West is delighted to renew our relationship with Persebaya Surabaya and we look forward to creating sporting and cultural opportunities through our shared love of football.
“Indonesia is a natural sporting partner for WA. Football is the No1 sport in Indonesia and we know from when we took our team to Surabaya in 2019 that they love Australian football.
“It has been a pleasure to host Azrul and his team this week, showing them several venues including the Sam Kerr Football Centre. We have had strong discussions about what we can achieve and it is very exciting.”
Mr Harnwell added: “Football West’s Asian Engagement Strategy is a pillar of our Strategic Plan and this Memorandum of Understanding shows how committed we are in this area. We would like to thank Minister Templeman and the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries for their ongoing support for Football West in developing these relations.”
Mr Ananda said: “We are happy to finally be able to continue our collaboration with Football West.
“During several days in Perth, the Persebaya management team has received much information regarding a visit from the Persebaya senior team in July 2025 for mini training camps and other cultural activities.
“Thank you to Jamie Harnwell and friends at Football West, Western Australia Sport and Recreation Minister Mr David Templeman, and Consulate General of Indonesia Mrs Listiana Operananta for their big support.
“We believe that the agreement between Persebaya and Football West over the next three years will strengthen people-to-people relationships between the people of East Java and Western Australia.”
Reunited with ‘Grandpa’ Aryn
During his visit to the Sam Kerr Football Centre, Mr Ananda was reunited with one of his former players.
Olympic Kingsway defender Aryn Williams was at Persebaya Surabaya for two years, between 2019 and 2021, becoming a firm favourite with supporters.
“It was a surprise to see Aryn, a good surprise, thank you,” Mr Ananda said.
“It was nice to hear that he has good memories of Indonesia. Our fans have good memories of him.
“We always try to be a professional club, we always try to be as good as we can to anyone who joins Persebaya.
“And not every Persebaya player can get a nickname. That tells you how popular Aryn is in Surabaya. He had a nickname … Mbah Aryn, which means grandpa in Javanese. Maybe because of his beard, or he’s a wise man … I’m not sure if he’s really wise but he seems wise. I mean, our top scorer didn’t have a nickname, but Aryn did.”
Rizky business for Socceroos
With Australia’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign on a knife edge, a lot could hinge on their return clash with Indonesia on 20 March next year.
Hoping to upset the Aussies in Adelaide will be a player who came through the ranks at Persebaya and was part of the squad that visited Perth in 2018.
Rizky Ridho has already faced the Socceroos, playing his part in the goalless draw in Jakarta three months ago.
And while he is no longer at Persebaya, his progress is a great source of pride for the club.
“Several of the juniors who came over in 2018 became national team players including the captain of our senior national team. Rizky Ridho was a Persebaya development player and now he is a main player in the Indonesia senior team.
“You just never know. It was a significant trip, the first trip, and that introduced us to one of the best players.”
While Persebaya Surabaya’s links with WA go back to 2018, Mr Ananda has been coming here much longer.
“I have always been an admirer of Australian sports programs. I learn a lot from Western Australia specifically, from basketball, from track and field, because we have worked with people in Western Australia since 2008 with the Government, with AIS and with the sports community here.
“It’s just natural to do the same thing with football. You have the expertise here.”