Benteng Stadium Renovated to Become the Pride of Tangerang Residents

Kapanlagi.com - Stadium is an inseparable part of loyal football fans. Many histories are created within the venue. From the most dramatic goals to unforgettable winning records for their supporters. The same goes for Benteng Stadium in Tangerang City, which witnessed the glory of Persikota and Persita, two football clubs from the city in the 1990s until the early 2000s.

Many memories are attached to the hearts of the supporters, one of them is Endang Supriadi, the leader of Benteng Mania (Betmen) who supports Persikota. His beloved team once experienced glory while playing at Benteng Stadium. Persikota itself started its journey in national football when it began to compete in the Division II of the Indonesian League around 1995/1996. At that time, their team was unbeatable, even managed to reach the semifinals and then became the champion of the Division II of the Indonesian League 1995/1996.

This team, also known as the miraculous baby, once qualified for the Premier Division period 1997/1998. This is the highest level of competition at that moment with PSIM Yogya and Persikabo Kabupaten Bogor. In the 1999/2000 Main Division season, Persikota achieved an extraordinary achievement.

"Persikota will always be in my heart until the end of my life. I miss going together, queuing for tickets, cheering until all the songs, I remember them all," he exclaimed. Hearing that the pride stadium of Laskar Benteng Viola and Benteng Mania will be renovated, Endang feels that his longing for the roaring supporters at Benteng Stadium will be fulfilled.

After being officially handed over by Tangerang Regency, Tangerang City Government carried out renovation of Benteng Stadium. The main focus of the initial rehabilitation phase is the improvement of the interior of the stadium such as the installation of spectator seats and field repairs in order to be used as a support facility for the community of Tangerang City.

Tangerang Mayor, Arief R.Wismansyah revealed that Benteng Stadium will also be used as a public facility, green open space and training arena for other sports branches. The mayor instructed the employees to take strategic, efficient and effective steps to accelerate the rehabilitation process of the stadium, which is the pride of the people of Tangerang City.

"It will have a capacity of around 7,000 spectators. The athletics branch will train here. We will create a jogging track," said Arief while directly inspecting the development of the stadium that is the pride of the community.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Housing and Settlement Agency (Perkim) of Tangerang City, Tatang Sutisna, targets the completion of the stadium renovation by the end of the year. The stadium is planned to be equipped with facilities such as spectator seats, jogging track, ride track, and recreational areas. The construction is carried out in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic as the goal of the City Government to provide public spaces for exercise, in addition to Ahmad Yani Square in Tangerang City. "Currently, we are undergoing maintenance of Benteng Stadium, tidying up the athletic track, football field, spectator seats, and grandstand roof," explained Tatang.

Not only that, the grandstand section will be equipped with a food court facility. Meanwhile, in the stadium's interior or under the grandstand, the Tangerang City Government has provided four VVIP toilets, 10 public toilets, and 16 football player toilets. There are also VIP rooms, two changing rooms for players, referee rooms, prayer rooms, medical rooms, bellboy rooms, and a warehouse.

The Head of the Public Works and Spatial Planning Agency (PUPR) of Tangerang City, Decky Priambodo, said that in the renovation process, PUPR is responsible for supporting the work space of the Perkim Agency. Starting from the construction of the outer road of Benteng Stadium, parking facilities, plazas, drainage systems, both inside and outside Benteng Stadium, which reaches 2,200 cubic meters.

"In addition to supporting the construction by deploying four heavy equipment every day, the PUPR Agency also mobilizes 30 workers to accelerate the process of dismantling the outer and inner drainage of Benteng Stadium and external facilities such as roads and plazas," explained Decky.

For your information, Benteng Stadium was built in 1987 and was inaugurated for the first time on January 11, 1989 by the Governor of West Java, H.R. Moh Yogie S.M.  In February 2020, Benteng Stadium and more than 50 other assets were transferred from the Tangerang Regency Government to the City of Tangerang.

(*/wri)