Kartanegara F.C.

Kartanegara

Full name	Kartanegara Football Club
Nickname	Singa Habang (The Red Lions)
Founded	2021;5 years ago (2021), as Mesra FC 15 December 2023;2 years ago (15 December 2023), as Kartanegara FC
Ground	Rondong Demang Stadium
Capacity	10,000
Owner	Kutai Kartanegara Government
Chairman	Thauhid Aprilian Noor [1]
Manager	Edi Fahruddin [2]
Coach	Albert Rudiana [3]
League	Liga 4
2023–24	1st (East Kalimantan zone) First round, 4th in Group K (National phase)
Home colours Away colours Third colours

Kartanegara Football Club (simply known as Kartanegara FC, or previously known as Mesra FC) is an Indonesian football club based in Kutai Kartanegara, East Kalimantan. They currently compete in the Liga 4 East Kalimantan zone.

History

The club was originally established in 2021 as Mesra FC, based in Samarinda. During its early years, it functioned as an amateur side competing in the lower divisions of the East Kalimantan regional league. ^[4]

On 15 December 2023, the club underwent a major transformation after being acquired and relocated to Kutai Kartanegara. It was officially rebranded as Kartanegara FC during a launch ceremony attended by the Regent of Kutai Kartanegara, Edi Damansyah. The rebranding included a change of colors to red and black, and the adoption of the nickname Singa Habang (The Red Lions). ^[5]

To strengthen the squad for the 2023–24 Liga 3 season, the management recruited veteran professional players with experience in Liga 1, including former players from Persija Jakarta and Persib Bandung. ^[6] The club saw immediate success by winning the Liga 3 East Kalimantan zone in early 2024. However, in the National Phase, they were eliminated in the first round after finishing 4th in Group K. ^[7] Following the 2024 PSSI restructuring, the club was placed in the fourth-tier Liga 4.

Honours

• Liga 3 East Kalimantan
  • Champions (1): 2023–24

References

1. "Rilis Tim dan Jersey, Kartanegara FC Diperkuat Eks Persija Jakarta dan Persib Bandung MEDIA KALTIM". media kaltim (in Indonesian). 15 December 2023.
2. "Bupati Luncurkan Tim dan Jersey Kartanegara FC Berlaga di Kancah Nasional". BeritaKaltim.Co. 16 December 2023.
3. "Kartanegara FC Menang Telak 11 Gol Tanpa Balas Hadapi Persisam, Target Lolos Liga 2 Musim Depan". Koran Kaltim.
4. Syah, A. (20 December 2023). "Sejarah Mesra FC Sebelum Menjadi Kartanegara FC". Kaltim Post. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
5. Rakyat, B. (16 December 2023). "Bupati Edi Damansyah Berharap Kartanegara FC Bangkitkan Gairah Bola di Kukar". Berita Kukar. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
6. "Gebrakan Kartanegara FC, Datangkan Pemain Grade A untuk Liga 3". Kaltim Today. 17 December 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
7. "Hasil Liga 3 Nasional: Kartanegara FC Gagal Melaju ke Babak 32 Besar". Prokal.co. 10 May 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2026.