How Benny Soetrisno Keeps the Rhythm of Life on the Green Field

It wasn't too dark in the afternoon, the sun was still preparing to leave the western horizon when the SUAR Team met one of the veteran entrepreneurs in South Jakarta.

At that time the businessman who served as Chairman of the Association of Import Export Companies, Benny Soetrisno had just finished his activities as a guest in a discussion themed "Strengthening Indonesian Migrant Workers" held by SUAR media.

In the midst of his busy schedule to keep the export value in surplus, no one would have guessed that the white-haired man has his own way of maintaining his balance between work and mental health.

He prefers to chase the ball with his colleagues on the green field. He feels many benefits when playing soccer, not only benefits for physical health but also benefits for mental health.

"Playing soccer is like therapy for me. It can improve heart health," Benny told SUAR in Jakarta, Thursday (09/18/2025).

Benny Soetrisno (Photo: Personal Documentation)

Besides being beneficial in training heart health, he said, activities in playing soccer are also beneficial for lung health. In it there are activities of running, walking, and sprinting.

"Playing football is complete, there is running, sprinting, stopping and running again, the muscles work, the fat burns without us realizing it," he said.

But the biggest benefit of playing soccer is mental health. In the midst of emotionally draining work pressures, being on the field with friends actually releases fatigue. "We can laugh together, and eventually the anxiety disappears, and the mood also improves," he said.

Build character

According to him, as a team sport, soccer teaches the importance of cooperation, communication, and achieving goals and of course building character.

Football is also the best teacher in forging mentality, communicating and managing tension and disappointment.

"Players learn about discipline, resilience in the face of defeat, and responsibility," he said.

Therefore, he said, playing soccer, according to him, can maintain mental health and can make him make better business decisions.

"Because I often play soccer, my mental health is maintained and carried over to the work environment, so I am not afraid to face challenges, especially for exports," he said.

He admits that although he is not as active as he used to be when he was younger, he is still active in his favorite sport. "Since I was young until now, even though I'm not as active as before, I try to play. It feels different if a week does not touch the green field," he said.

Benny Soetrisno at a soccer event in Jakarta (Photo: Personal Documentation)

It's strange if a Benny doesn't have an idol soccer player. When asked about an idol in the world of soccer, Benny did not hesitate to mention Lionel Messi.

"He is a complete figure because his playing strategy is unique and interesting, according to him Lionel Messi is one of today's authoritative footballers," he said.

Lionel Messi's main strength lies in his incredible combination of dribbling ability, playing vision, intelligence, technique and deadly finishing.

He is adept at controlling the ball, reading the game to create chances, and has a high accuracy of shot and pass, making him a complete player who is difficult to stop.

Building a dream

Benny's love for soccer doesn't stop there. He wants Indonesian children to have the space and access to grow through soccer.

This is what prompted him to establish the Intinusa Olah Prima Football Academy (ASIOP) school in 1997.

At that time, ASIOP became the first Indonesian soccer academy in Indonesia. The goal, he said, was to produce young soccer talents to compete at the professional level and the national team.

"Young talented children so that they can appear in international matches or even defend the Indonesian national team," he said.

Not just a small academy, ASIOP has now developed into a professional soccer club, with qualified facilities. In January 2025, ASIOP even inaugurated its own stadium called ASTA Stadium.

The various programs include the development of youth football talent through comprehensive training programs, including regular programs for achievement and hobby programs.