Recognising a Great Coaching Achievement!

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It is so refreshing to see one of Coach Cali’s former athletes shed light on what is truly an unheard-of coaching achievement — nearly seven years of work, starting with local village children in Indonesia.

Congratulations to Vinnie Santana for also pointing out the enormous contribution of our friend Armand. He is the single individual behind the rise of Indonesian kids to dominate South East Asian multisport.

At Trisutto, we clearly remember Armand contacting us in 2018 with a request to help find a coach who could lead his project in Indonesia. When asked what he was looking for in a coach, he explained that it would need to be a very special person. Someone who could coach, yes — but more importantly, someone who could endure hardships that most Western coaches simply could not cope with.

My next question, asked rather naïvely at the time, was:

“What facilities will they have to work with? Do you have a pool, and what size? Do you have access to a track — it doesn’t have to be tartan, dirt is fine — and access to roads for riding?”

The reply shocked me.

“I think you misunderstand me, sorry. It will be in a small village, far away from the cities. There is no pool, but we live near the ocean. The water is warm and we can swim all year, except during typhoons. There is no track, as it rains a lot and the dirt washes away. We have one single-lane road in and out of the village. It is a little busy, but our people are friendly and will be careful with the children. If you can find the right person, I will buy some turbos and possibly a couple of treadmills, if that will help.”

I was completely taken aback. I didn’t know what to say.

So, in what I thought would be my final email — because where were we going to find a coach who could deal with this? — I asked the next obvious question:

“Armand, where would the coach stay and eat?”

“They don’t have to stay with the kids. I would give them my accommodation, as I am not there very much. They can eat with the kids — we provide three meals a day. Oh, and they will have to like fish.”

At that moment, my mind went to only one faint possibility. He had been out of coaching for several years, but in the 25 years I have known him, he had always run social projects in Brazil. Providence for great things sometimes intervenes.

We contacted him.

His first word was: “Where?”

Two weeks later, Cali rang back and asked to meet Armand.

Seven years later —Seven gold medals at the SEA Games —With the exact same training facilities.

Armand found the only coach I know on this earth who could have achieved that.

Two truly very special human beings made it happen.

Thank you, boys, for making public one of the most unique sporting achievements — one that would otherwise have gone unnoticed.

Well done.

Athlete Development Programs