KUDUS – The evening at Mountain View Residence (MVR) in Bae sub-district quieted down as guest activities began to wane. While many chose to rest, the players of the Jakarta U-18 Putri JP regional team were engaged in a routine that went unnoticed from the sidelines.
This was not an extra physical training session or a tactical meeting ahead of a match. Every night at 8:00 PM, they gathered to write brief messages to their parents at home. A few simple sentences asking for a blessing served as the day’s conclusion before mobile phones were collected by officials and the entire team turned in for the night.
The habit is part of the character-building curriculum implemented by Jakarta Putri JP U-18 head coach Hery Susilo during the team's participation in the HYDROPLUS Soccer League All Stars 2025/2026 in Kudus.
After the letters are written, each player takes a photo of their handwritten note to send to their parents. Only then are the mobile phones stored away, and the night concludes with a mandatory lights-out time.
For Hery, the rule is more than just limiting device usage. Behind the simple routine, he aims to instill a habit of respecting parents, building discipline, and reminding players that every struggle on the pitch is supported by the prayers of their family.
“Using phones is allowed, but there is a time limit. At 8:00 PM everyone must gather. Before their phones are collected, they must send a message to their parents, asking for a blessing for tomorrow's match. It is part of their character education,” Hery said during an interview at MVR Bae, Kudus, on Tuesday (July 7, 2026).
He believes that an athlete’s character is not shaped solely through technical drills or match strategy. Small, consistent habits provide the foundation for building a sense of responsibility both in daily life and on the pitch.
“Discipline is born from small habits. From learning to be responsible with time, respecting others, to having the courage to admit one's own mistakes after a bad pass on the pitch,” he explained.
What Hery teaches is felt directly by the players. Captain of the Jakarta Putri JP U-18 team, Rengganis Wijanarto, admitted that the nightly ritual of sending messages to parents is no longer just a team obligation, but a moment she now looks forward to.
“Every day at eight o'clock, we write letters to send to Mom and Dad. Our coach emphasizes discipline, so after that time, there is no more phone use, and by nine in the evening, we are all expected to be asleep,” said Rengganis.
While away from home, Hery has also provided a sense of comfort for the players. To Rengganis, her coach serves as more than just a mentor on the field; he cares for them in their daily lives like a father figure.
“We already consider the coach our own father,” she said.
The values instilled within the team extend beyond discipline. Compassion for others has also become a hallmark of the Putri JP U-18 Jakarta team's journey during the HYDROPLUS Soccer League All Stars 2025/2026.
Sharing Happiness During a Growth Journey
Amidst their competition schedule, the team fulfilled a pledge made during the regional rounds. They provided aid to dozens of orphans in Kudus Regency at the Mountain View Residence (MVR) in Bae, Kudus, on Tuesday (July 7).
The donation funds were drawn from a portion of the prize money awarded to the team after they successfully advanced from the Jabodetabek regional stage to the national round of the HYDROPLUS Soccer League.
Hery explained that from the outset, every team member had committed to donating 2.5 percent of their winnings if they qualified for the next stage. They finally fulfilled that promise while in Kudus.
“This was indeed our pledge. After passing the regional stage, we committed to donating 2.5 percent of our prize money to orphans. Thank God, we were finally able to carry it out today in Kudus,” he said.
According to Hery, the donation was originally planned for when the team was still in Jakarta. However, a packed preparation schedule for the national round meant the activity could only be realized once the team arrived in Kudus.
Approximately 20 to 25 orphans from care institutions in the Kudus area received the assistance. For Hery, he hopes that success on the field will be matched by a commitment to helping the community. “We want our success on the field to bring benefits to the community as well,” he explained.
The gesture received a warm welcome from the beneficiary institution. Sofi’i, caretaker of the Al Achsaniyyah Islamic Boarding School and a representative of the recipients, praised the players and coaches of Putri JP U-18 Jakarta for taking the time to give back despite their demanding competition schedule.
Amid the high-stakes phase of the HYDROPLUS Soccer League All Stars, the journey of Putri JP U-18 Jakarta demonstrates that athletic development extends far beyond the final whistle. From writing nightly prayers for their parents before lights-out to their commitment to supporting orphans after reaching milestones, the team balances character building with the pursuit of excellence. These values remain with them, far beyond what is recorded on the scoreboard. (ITN/mainkekudus)