Ode To Latitude
Captain

Mia tapped her fingertips on the floor, waiting for Regata's busy response to stir the coffee in her beloved tosca cup. Thirty minutes left he had to head for the jogging route.

"Now, his shoes are worn. It was the right picket" Regata said, putting the shoes on Mia's feet. While tying Mia's shoelaces, Regata advised her daughter.

"If you're sure, you should try. There is no result without effort and hard work. In the future if you change your mind still support whatever you do as long as it is positive" said Regata finished tying both shoelaces Mia, making sure the rope is perfectly linked.

"Mama promise I won't be angry anymore. If you don't like math it's ok. You can learn music, pictures or other subjects you like" Regata stared at his daughter's two black eyeballs.

"Promise?" said Mia brandishing her tiny little pinkie.

"Promise!" answer Regata sure.

*****

Let's all gather in the field

Koh Toni's whatsapp message made badminton athletes from all branches leave their activities and head to the training ground.

The athletes sat there, waiting for everything to come together. Koh Toni as head coach and men's sole coach counts the number of athletes who have gathered. After everything is complete Koh Toni conveys the purpose and purpose of himself gathering players on the field.

"Two weeks away we will face the SEA Games tournament in Hanoi which we all know is only held once every two years" Koh Toni stared at the athletes one by one.

"Today we will directly select the men's and women's team leaders for the team tournament. The names of the candidates we have prepared" 

"The candidate was selected based on performance assessments, in addition to the leadership values we see both from everyday life and from the participation of candidates in various tournaments"

"The names we've already attached" 

Ko Toni showed me the big white board that was behind her. There were four people whose names were plastered there, four men and four women. Two of the names were captains of the team two years ago, when the results of the SEA Games Indonesia only won a silver medal after the men's team lost to Malaysia and the women's team lost to Thailand.

Cleo Putra Pradana was the first candidate for the men's team leader. Cleo this year is twenty-nine . Cleo was one of the seniors in the men's doubles sector, as well as the chairman of the SEA Games men's team two years ago. After Cleo's name there were Krisna Danar Rivaldi, Ilham Anas Al-Huda, and Lintang Wiryateja. Meanwhile, in the women's team, Annisa Ibrahim, Elfi Yolavita, Devitasari, and Gita Brahmin Budiono adorned a row of candidate names.

"To the captain of the selected team, do your job well. To the unelected continue to prepare yourself do not feel inferior not because you are not able, but we choose the best and ready to lead the team. You're ready!" koh Toni.

"Ready coach!" said players in unison.

"Prepare yourself. Exercise well, take care of health, keep mental, stay disciplined and responsible" 

Koh Toni's final message disbanded the group of players. They return to the routine as national athletes. 

Drawing matches will be officially announced next week, broadcast live on the SEA Games organising youtube channel.

The official line-up of players was announced on official PBSI social media. Badminton lovers welcomed the post with various opinions why not this it. The PBSI social division could not do much to the demand of fans of this sport. There are some names that have just debuted at the senior level and there are also juniors whose names are not widely known to the public.

"It's a suicide mission" Regata muttered looking at the men's team's line-up. His prediction was only Latitude and two doubles sons who were able to contribute numbers, the rest of him was not sure. 

The Indonesian men's team two years ago was in the top one, must submit to Malaysia who are in the second seed even though in that year the best line of men's team was revealed all in the hope of bringing SEA Games gold. This year they reversed the strategy by the amount of 50:50. Half are senior players and half are juniors.

"Huh? Indonesia wants to go down level to target bronze? said Tara mocked the arrangement of players who did not match his expectations.

Neighboring Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand have published their line-ups a few days ago, and all of them are core players whereas Indonesia is dabbling with new players.

"Maybe it's a senior-junior collaboration" said Tedja nimbrung, his eyes peeking at Tara's phone screen.

"Udah deh you do not need to follow" Tara's nagging.

"Yes I agree with you Ja, who knows how to get gold this year" Prita and Tedja nudged each other to pomp Tara who was upset.

The next post was a photo of Lintang and Annisa being officially announced as the captain of each team. Regata and Tara who saw the post smiled happily. Lintang's chance to prove itself as the inaugural team leader of his career.

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