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…
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