Meet Indonesia’s former President and the man behind back-to-back Indonesian Proliga champions Jakarta LavAni
In this exclusive interview with FIVB.com, we delve into the inspiring story of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), the former President of Indonesia, and his remarkable transition from leading a nation to guiding his volleyball club, Jakarta LavAni Allo Bank, to Proliga glory.
Volleyball has always held a special place in SBY’s heart. His love for the sport dates back to his school days and his time as a cadet in the Military Academy, and he has continued to play throughout his life.
“I still played volleyball in my spare time as the President of Indonesia. Although I could no longer jump to spike because of my knee condition, I kept playing volleyball with members of my cabinet. Besides, we benefited from the physical exercise we did, and we could also escape from the daily pressures of running the government. Of course, it was only for a few hours before we had to be back in the office, but it was lots of fun.”
In 2019, SBY faced a profound personal loss with the passing of his beloved wife, Ani Yudhoyono. Seeking solace and healing, he turned to volleyball and founded Jakarta LavAni Allo Bank. To honour his late wife’s memory, SBY named the volleyball club LavAni as a testament to their enduring love.
“This word is coming from ‘Love Ani’,” SBY fondly said. “I also wrote and composed a team song with the title LavAni Forever. Trust me, every time I am with LavAni, either during daily training or competition, in my mind Ani, my late wife, is also there. It means she is always with me… in my heart.”
In the early stages of establishing the club, SBY recruited talented young players and instilled in them his military training methodologies. His dedication and mentorship provided an environment where the athletes could flourish both individually and as a team.
“My role is to create a good environment for the team so they can really enjoy what they are doing. I fully understand that to be a good winning team, they must also have a strong spirit, energy and mentality. I teach and motivate them all the time to possess a ‘can do spirit’ and ‘never give up attitude’,” commented SBY.
He has certainly instilled a winning mentality in his club. Having only joined the league in 2022, Jakarta LavAni recently triumphed for the second consecutive year in the Indonesian Proliga after overcoming Jakarta Bhayangkara Presisi 3-2 (25-22, 22-25, 24-26, 25-21,15-09) in the final.
“It was indeed a tough game. I always enjoy watching this kind of grand final in the Indonesian Proliga,” said SBY, before adding: “Not only were there thousands of fans and supporters who were present in the venue, but millions of Indonesians were following the games on television. They were all, I thought, entertained by the matches.”
SBY counts himself as one of the many thousands of fans in the venue that night, stating: “I watched the matches as someone who really loves volleyball. Of course, as the founder and club owner of LavAni, I must be there to motivate and give moral support to the players.”
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So what’s next for SBY’s Jakarta LavAni? After a seven-week break, SBY now firmly has his sights set on the team keeping its Proliga crown in 2024.
“Even though LavAni players train hard, the management team always works to ensure a balanced and healthy environment, both physically as well as psychologically. I treat them as family. We always aim to ensure that LavAni has Esprit de corps. You may not believe that in our spare time we sing and dance together with music. Stress management should not be forgotten. With all that, LavAni will be ready again to play in the next 2024 Proliga,” SBY said determinedly.
Looking even further ahead, SBY has ambitious goals for the team to compete against the best of the best in regional and continental club competitions.
Following the high standard of volleyball on display at the Proliga final, alongside the rapidly growing popularity of the sport, SBY feels that the future of Indonesian volleyball is bright.
“Nowadays, the Indonesian national team has a leading role within Southeast Asia. I strongly believe that if we continue our efforts, then in five to seven years’ time our national team will be competing well at the continental level,” he noted. “Of course, we should do more. We should have effective management, training and the correct volleyball management system in place. A great strategy and long terms plan are also needed.”
Indonesia’s potential has also been recognised by FIVB President Dr Ary S. Graça F° who visited the country in March. During his visit, the FIVB President highlighted the FIVB’s readiness to support Indonesia in reaching its full potential in volleyball and building a long-term plan for the sport’s ongoing development.
SBY is confident that the FIVB, under the leadership of FIVB President Dr Ary S. Graça F, can provide the necessary support to help Indonesian volleyball reach its full potential.
“I would like to thank Dr Ary Graça and the delegates from the FIVB for kindly attending the grand final of the Indonesian Proliga last March in Yogyakarta. His presence shows his leadership and great spirit to continuously advance volleyball around the globe,” commented SBY who met with the FIVB President during the final. www.fivb.com/en/media/news_pressrelease/fivb-president-meets-former-indonesian-president-and?id=100750#:~:text=FIVB%20President%20Dr%20Ary%20S,of%20the%20Indonesian%20Proliga%202023
“As a sportsman myself and former leader of Indonesia, I will not only continue to manage Jakarta LavAni Allo Bank into a promising future, but I will also always support General Imam Sudjarwo, the President of the National Volleyball Federation of Indonesia, in his efforts to elevate Indonesian volleyball to even greater heights.”
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