Michael Essien is a Champions League winner, holds two Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two Ligue 1 trophies and has somehow ended up being signed by Persib Bandung to ply his trade in Indonesia. On his transfer to the humble mountainous city, he was quoted saying "I hope I am the spark for other world class players to come to Indonesia," according to the official Persib website.Essien is far from the usual foreign player joining an Indonesian side. The Ghanaian was part of the defensive backbone in a Chelsea side that dominated English football under the rule of Jose Mourinho, rarely has a player with such high pedigree graced Indonesian football.The signing shook the Indonesian football world, most clubs just couldn't believe such a big name would come to Indonesia, and now many are on the war path for their own marquee signings. Transfer rumor mills are in overdrive, linking footballers from all over the world to small clubs around Indonesia.Famous Arsenal traitor and Tottenham Spurs benchwarmer Emmanuel Adebayor is rumored to be on his way to Bali United FC as their marquee signing. The island paradise of Bali is probably a big draw for Adebayor, given his chilled out nature. So chill that he once famously ignored a phone call from his wife as she was giving birth because he was on television.While nothing has been official yet, rumors have been speculating from unreliable sources such as small blogs and random social media accounts that Jakarta side Persija is targeting defensive right back Maicon Sisenando from Roma. If it turns out that the needs regarding players quoted by Gede Widiante can be filled by Maicon, then Persija probably needs to prioritize better.Another big name that is 99 percent (which could just as well mean 1 percent) close to being confirmed is former West Bromwich Albion hero, Peter Odemwingie to Madura United.Odemwingie might not seem like a big as a name to most casual football fans, most people know him as being an injured Stoke City player who was cast away to Rotherham United. But on his day back at West Brom, Odemwingie was able to net ten goals in a season. Against famously shoddy Indonesian defending, his experience might prove useful for the boys in Madura.Diego Forlán, formally of Atletico Madrid and Manchester United, might be gracing the balding pitch of Arema FC. As fun as this transfer would be, it's probably a joke."Diego Forlán? Maybe. But a player like that has to fit our own criteria," Aji Santoso, Manager of Arema FC, said without even a hint of irony at the idea of Forlán possibly leading the line in East Java.The regeneration of Indonesian football has been painstakingly slow, but signings like Essien or Odemwingie might be the right spark needed light up the league, instead of the usual fires in the stands.
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