Krasnodar Stadium, an impressive venue with a seating capacity of 35,000, vibrated with life, emanating a thunderous roar reminiscent of a dormant volcano awakening beneath a delicate and serene layer of snow as it embraced the exhilarating commencement of the Russian Premier League's inaugural season. This particular day marked a significant milestone for Arief, as he undertook the pivotal role of Valery Karpin's chief assistant in his very first Kuban derby, a high-stakes match that featured a fierce clash between the local heroes FK Krasnodar and their legendary rivals, Spartak Moscow. Both teams boasted substantial budgets amounting to €80 million, enabling them to recruit star players from a diverse array of nations, from Serbia to Brazil. As the bone-chilling temperature dipped to a frigid minus 6°C, complemented by the relentless winds sweeping across the Steppe that rendered every cross dangerously uncertain, the atmosphere within the stadium was paradoxically warm and electric. The VIP stands brimmed with excited families, encapsulating the spirit of community and support; Natalia, for instance, cozily wrapped herself in a snow blanket while clutching an Indonesian ginger thermos filled with a comforting beverage, Sarah was actively capturing the exhilarating moment with a live broadcast on TikTok, which quickly garnered an impressive viewership of 3 million, hilariously titled "RPL Derby Indo Flair!", Sari enthusiastically distributed Krasnodar-themed scarves to the delighted children around her, and Liam, with an infectious sense of team spirit, proudly held aloft a banner that read, "Hero Arief!".
Positioned meticulously to the right of Karpin's tactical bench, Arief sat clad in a thick, warm red tracksuit, his focus directed toward a lit-up tactical tablet that depicted the carefully constructed 4-2-3-1 formation that had seamlessly evolved from the success of the squad he previously guided during the U-23 championship team. The formidable starting lineup boasted a collection of keen talents: goalkeeper Stanislav Agkatsev was poised to guard the net, supported by a resolute centre-back duo of Christian Ramírez and Vitaly Stepanov. The midfield featured the strategically important combination of Sergey Petrov and Adi Nugroho, both of whom had impressively earned promotions from the U-23 ranks, while the wing play was energized by Dika Ramadhan, who was set to make a remarkable debut in senior football alongside the exceptional Olakunle Olusegun. The attacking threats included the skillful midfielders Moisés and Eduard Spertsyan, and leading the front line was the powerful Colombian striker John Córdoba, who came with a hefty transfer fee of €10 million, a significant investment that highlighted his expected contributions to the team.
In the dressing room just before the adrenaline-fueled match commenced, a palpable tension filled the air, exacerbated by the sauna-like warmth that enveloped the players. Karpin, embodying the essence of determination and unwavering spirit, delivered a loud and motivating speech in Russian, declaring, "Spartak's oligarchs may have money, but we possess the indomitable spirit of Kuban! Arief, your tactical insight will spearhead our offensive efforts. Our double pivot must dismantle their pressure much like Pep Guardiola orchestrates his game style!" In that charged environment, Arief took the opportunity to reinforce the plan: "Don't forget to apply pressure in the initial 15 minutes when the snow makes the field slippery—with our Adi-Petrov pivot set to intercept, Dika's wing attack must capitalize on the speed advantage against their slower fullbacks. Additionally, Sergei's set-pieces should specifically target the blind-side zones of their defense. Let's be mindful of that UEFA mental level: 'Calm as ice, attack like fire'!"
Dika, brimming with enthusiasm, eagerly asked, "Coach, am I truly prepared to make my debut against Spartak?" To which Adi replied with unwavering confidence, "As the pivot in our formation, I am more than ready to hold down the midfield with the fierce strength of Garuda in the competitive landscape of the Russian League!" Córdoba chimed in, exuding self-assurance, "I'm determined to aim for a hat-trick!"
The kick-off echoed with intensity, the air thick with anticipation. In the second minute, Spartak struck early, scoring a counterattack goal initiated from their Serbian wing—score stood at 0-1. Instantly, the atmosphere in the VIP stands turned tense, with Natalia imploring, "Stay calm!" Meanwhile, Karpin swiftly called for the team captain and relayed crucial instructions: "We need to play more cohesively! Arief, it appears we need to recalibrate our strategy at this moment!" In response, Arief shouted out to rally his players, "Apply pressure!" Moments later, in the ninth minute, Adi cleverly intercepted the ball at the center, launching a long pass to Ramirez-Dika, who remarkably dribbled solo over 40 meters, gracefully evading two defenders before delivering a precise low pass to Córdoba who, in a triumphant act, found the back of the net, equating the score to 1-1! Joy erupted from the stands as Sarah triumphantly recorded the moment, exclaiming, "Goal!"
Liam couldn't contain his elation and shouted, "Dika truly is the king of Indonesia!" The first half continued heating up, with the snow falling more intensely, which hampered visibility considerably. In the 28th minute, a potential penalty for Spartak emerged, but VAR promptly ruled it out due to Stepanov's impeccable offside trap, reminiscent of Giorgi during their U-23 campaign. A stunning quick counterattack unfolded, with Spertsyan expertly passing the ball to Olusegun, who wasted no time in forwarding it to Moisés, who delivered a volley that found the net, flipping the score to 2-1!
The elation in the VIP room was palpable as Sari jubilantly screamed, "It finally worked! Arief is a genius!" Embracing the moment, Natalia exclaimed while hugging Sarah, "Adi undoubtedly deserves to be the MVP!" As the second half escalated in intensity, the snow fell even harder, creating an almost surreal game environment. In the 55th minute, Spartak relentlessly pressed forward and managed to equalize at 2-2 with a precise header from a well-placed set piece. Recognizing the shift in momentum, Karpin strategically altered the approach by exploiting an overload on the wingback. Arief, with composed urgency, instructed, "Moisés, adopt the role of a false 9, and create ample space for Dika!"
As the match roared on into the 67th minute, Sergei's expertly executed free kick curved inwards. Córdoba's athleticism shone through as he made a spectacular acrobatic header that propelled the score to 3-2! The stadium reverberated with the euphoric cheers of the crowd.
The drama peaked in the 82nd minute, as Spartak, invoking a sense of panic during a corner situation, managed to secure a rebound. However, Agkatsev exhibited exceptional skill, making a heroic diving save to deny their advance. A blistering counterattack swiftly followed, with Adi delivering a firm pass to the Dika-Spertsyan duo, who executed a deft one-two coordination, allowing Dika to beautifully find the net with a curling solo goal into the top corner, raising the score to 4-2!
As the final whistle blew, signaling Krasnodar's grand victory in the derby with a triumphant score of 4-2, jubilant players swiftly lifted Karpin onto their shoulders and celebrated amidst a cascade of snow confetti blanketing the pitch. The RPL media buzzed with excitement, exclaiming, "Arief's Indonesian techniques, which significantly aided Karpin's strategies, have destabilized Spartak! The top-6 is within reach!" The dressing room was soon filled with raucous celebrations as players indulged in vodka mocktails. Karpin, brimming with pride, approached Arief and embraced him, declaring, "Fantastic work! You are truly the best assistant—Unity Academy is fortunate to have you on board. Remember, we have Zenit coming up next week, and I'm counting on you to provide even more attacking insights!"
Dika, overflowing with enthusiasm, interjected, "A debut performance featuring one goal plus an assist—my national team call-up for 2027 must be just around the corner!" Adi, with a sense of pride, affirmed, "This pivotal role was critical to securing our derby victory!"
At the grand post-match press conference, Sergey Galitsky Jr. remarked, "Arief Rahman is a true phenomenon. At the forthcoming Unity launch in Moscow tomorrow, he is set to become a new face at the national level." Karpin voiced his ambitious target: "Our aim is to secure a spot in the Top 4!" The VIP box radiated uncontrollable euphoria as Natalia beamed, "What an astonishing 4-2 derby result! Liam exclaimed, 'Daddy is the derby god!'"
Sarah chimed in, "An astonished 5 million viewers watched live! The hashtag #AriefDerby is trending across RPL!" Sari thoughtfully considered, "The children must be so proud. But troubling news from AFF indicates Indonesia's loss again—reports urge 'Arief to return home quickly'?"
As they journeyed back to the clustered villa, the atmosphere was lively, bolstered by a celebratory feast of shashlik and satay dishes dispatched directly from Jakarta. Liam cheered, "Daddy emerged victorious!" With triumphant spirits, Arief raised his drink and proclaimed, "This derby victory establishes a solid foundation for our future. Tomorrow, we negotiate the Unity Moscow MoU, and take on Zenit next week."
However, a concerning WhatsApp message from Erick Thohir popped up: "What a wild derby! In the AFF, the national team faced a disappointing loss to Vietnam with a score of 0-3. The media in Indonesia is in an uproar. We need to expedite the signing of the MoU with PSSI!" Arief read the message quietly, choosing to withhold any comments as he mulled over the implications. As he gazed out at the falling night snow, he mused to himself, "Derby victory today, Unity tomorrow."