PETALING JAYA: Football coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee (pic) hopes to lead his new team Persik Kediri back to top again when the Indonesia Liga 1 new season starts next month.

Last season, Persik had a strong first half when they collected 24 points in the first leg and were placed in the top four.

However, a dip in form, with just two wins and a string of draws in the second leg, saw them slump to a 12th-place finish.

“That’s football,” Kim Swee said, who was the coach with Persis Solo before taking up the new challenge.

“But this season, the scenario is different. About 50 per cent of the squad are new. A few key foreign players have left, and we’ve already added several local players.”

Kim Swee confirmed that the club have reached agreements with a number of international players.

“We want to be better than last season. That’s the only target.

“We know where we stand financially. Clubs like Dewa United, Persib Bandung, and Persija Jakarta have bigger budgets. We can’t compare with them. But we can be smart, build balance in the squad, and fight for every point.”

For the new season, they have signed several Indonesian players like defenders Gavin Kwan, Novri Setiawan, Muhamad Firly; midfielders Irkham Milla, Wigi Pratama, Aulia Ramadhan and striker Yandi Sofyan.

Some of the stars in the club are Indonesian international striker Ezra Walian, Nepal international centreback Rohit Chand and Brazilian goalkeeper Leo Navacchio.

“The people here are hungry, ambitious, and want to grow. And I’m motivated,” he said.