1979; 45 years ago (1979) (as NIAC Mitra) 1993; 31 years ago (1993) (as Mitra Surabaya) 1999; 25 years ago (1999) as (Mitra Kalteng Putra) 2003; 21 years ago (2003) as (Mitra Kutai Kartanegara Football Club)
This club was founded in 1979 as NIAC Mitra.[1] NIAC stood for New International Amusement Center, a major casino in Surabaya during the 1970s. In 1983, the team played a friendly match against Arsenal F.C., winning by 2–0. NIAC was dissolved by its owner, Alexander Wenas, on 24 September 1990.[2][3]
The club was revived under the name of Mitra Surabaya in 1993. After relegation to the First Division, the club moved to Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan and were renamed Mitra Kalteng Putra (MKP)[4] in 1999. At the end of 2001 season, the club was relegated to the Second Division. Financial problems led the club to be loaned to Suryanto Anwar, after which they moved again, to Tenggarong, Kutai Kartanegara, East Kalimantan, where they received its current name.[4] The new ownership had a great impact. At the end of the 2003 season, Mitra Kukar were promoted to the First Division. In the 2005 season, the new owner fully bought Mitra Kukar. By the end of 2007 season, Mitra Kukar succeeded to be promoted to the Premier Division, after finishing first in the First Division. In the 2010–11 Premier Division, Mitra Kukar was promoted to the Indonesia Super League after finishing third in the final round.[citation needed]
^The competition is widely regarded as the predecessor of AFC Champions League (held for the first time in 1967), since it was the first organized international competition that involved club teams around Asia, organized by the football authorities of East Pakistan, in collaboration with Asian Football Confederation (AFC).