The National Paralympic Games (Peparnas) XVI Papua is scheduled to be held from 2-15 November 2021. The opening ceremony of the event was held at the Mandala Stadium, Jayapura City, on Friday, November 5, 2021.

In this Peparnas, as many as 1,985 athletes from 34 provinces are scheduled to compete in 12 different sports with 602 matches.

The twelve sports that will be competed in this year’s Peparnas are weightlifting, athletics, boccia, badminton, chess, Judo, shooting, archery, swimming, cerebral palsy football, wheelchair tennis, and table tennis. Meanwhile, all related activities held during this year’s Peparnas XVI Papua will be centered in Mandala Stadium. However, what and how exactly is the Mandala Stadium like?

The Jayapura Mandala Stadium is actually closely related to the Persipura Jayapura football club as it is the home stadium of the team. Whenever Persipura is hosting the Liga 1 Indonesia, the Mandala Stadium will most likely be appointed as the venue of the match. Thousands of people will come flocking down to the stadium every time the club competes in a match. In fact, the stadium was once one of the stadiums chosen to host an international football event, namely the AFC competition, in the 2014/2015 season. 

Mandala Stadium was built following the international standard. The stadium has undergone a number of renovations to meet these standards. In 2005, Mandala Stadium received the AFC B+ standard certificate and was originally only able to accommodate 30,000 spectators. However, after being renovated by the Papua Provincial Public Works Office, the capacity increased to 50,000 spectators.

The Mandala Stadium has existed since the Dutch colonial era where it  was formerly known as the Dok V Football Field. However, unlike the Bergendal or Argapura Field belonging to the PSK Kajoe Pulau club and the Hollandia Binnen Field or now known as Trikora Field, the Dok V Football Field was rarely used for matches and competitions such as the Hollandia Binnen Football League.

Around the 1950s, there were two football leagues in Jayapura City (formerly Hollandia), namely Voetbalbond Hollandia en Omstreken (VHO) and Voetbal Bond Hollandia (VBH). Clubs from the league used to play on five fields in Hollandia or Jayapura today, and one of them is Mandala Stadium or Dok V Field.

The Mandala Stadium underwent its first renovation in 1972-1973 by former Commander of the XVII/Cenderawasih Regional Military Command Brig. Gen. Acub Zainal. Acub Zainal also initiated the Acub Zainal Cup Match, which is an inter-district football match in Irian Jaya Province.

The Mandala Stadium first renovation started in 1972 and was completed on 18 January 1973 which was later inaugurated by the Minister of Ekuin and the then Chairman of Indonesian National Sport Committee (KONI) Central, Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwana IX.

Acub Zaenal was born on 19 September 1927 and died in Jakarta, 4 October 2008, at the age of 81. Acub Zaenal was an Indonesian military and political figure who served as Governor of Papua for the  1973-1975 period.

Previously, Acub Zaenal served as Commander of the XVII/Cenderawasih Regional Military Command for the  1970-1973 period. He was involved as one of PSSI managers in the 80s and the founder of the Perkesa 78 and Arema Malang football clubs. He was also the initiator of the restoration of Mandala Stadium, which is considered good in shape and equipped with a tribun seating area, into a stadium belonging to KONI Papua. 

After being inaugurated as Governor of Irian Jaya (now Papua) in 1973, his first government agenda was to change and remodel the Papua Governor's Office, restore the Mandala Stadium, and build the Jayapura Gymnasium (GOR Jayapura). Therefore, Acub Zaenal is very much remembered by the People of Papua. " Acub Zaenal gave his heart to the people of Papua," said Willem, a resident of the City of Jayapura.

In 2009, Mandala Stadium was renovated to be adapted to international standards to welcome the international event that may be hosted by Persipura Jayapura. During this renovation,  a Rp10 billion digital scoreboard and big screen and Rp7.8 billion stadium lights were installed in the stadium.

In addition, Mandala Stadium is also equipped with several additional facilities such as ball boy room, massage room, and high-speed internet room for press conferences with journalists. The high-quality grass used in Mandala Stadium even matches with the ones used in Indonesia’s major stadiums, namely the Palembang’s Jakabaring Stadium and GBK Stadium. 

In 2019, the Papua Provincial Government through the Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Office once again renovated the Mandala Stadium using the 2019 Regional Budget (APBD). The Mandala Stadium was then completely renovated, starting from  the drainage of the field, grass, spectator seats, to the lights that were adjusted to the AFC standards.

To support the National Sports Games (PON) XX 2021 in Jayapura some time ago, the Mandala Stadium once again underwent minor renovation by adding 1,200 Lux lights and replacing the grass field by using Zoysia matrella.

Writer: Eri Sutrisno
Editors: Ratna Nuraini/Elvira Inda Sari/Penny P. Rusman
Translator: Aisah Amanda