Pusamania Borneo

Samarinda sits on the Mahakam River in East Kalimantan, and for years its football loyalty belonged to Persisam Putra Samarinda, until the owner moved that club to Bali and renamed it Bali United. Supporters led by Nabil Husein Said Amin, together with PT Nahusam Pratama Indonesia, answered by founding a new side on 7 March 2014, taking over the playing license of Perseba Super Bangkalan to get straight into competition. Pusamania is not the old club's rival — the fanbase treats it as the successor Persisam left behind.

The new side wasted no time: it won the Liga Indonesia Premier Division in its first season, going up to the top flight. In 2017 the name was trimmed to Borneo FC. The club plays in orange and black and carries the nickname Pesut Etam.

Segiri Stadium, the home ground, holds around 13,000; a 2023 renovation forced a spell playing home matches across the strait in Balikpapan, at Batakan Stadium. That city supplies the club's sharpest fixture, the East Kalimantan Derby against Persiba Balikpapan, alongside the Mahakam Derby with Mitra Kukar and the Papadaan Derby against Barito Putera.

Under Pieter Huistra, Borneo FC won the Liga 1 Regular Series in 2023–24. Getting there took patience: three runner-up finishes in the Piala Presiden, in 2017, 2022 and 2024, each one falling short at the final step.