“Exercise provides good relaxation effect for everyone,” said David Atkinson, the director of Cooper Venture Development Program, a division at Cooper Aerobic Center in Dallas, United States. According to Atkinson, exercise increases energy levels and increases serotonin in the brain. Some of these benefits become the factors why Badmintun (Fortune Badminton) and Kobatun (Fortune Basketball Community) can be preserved.

 Badmintun Has Survived Since 2001

“It’s like a hobby that becomes a necessity, when you often play badminton and then you don’t play, your body will feel sore all over,” said Hary Murti, Chairman of Badmintun.

Besides for a hobby that becomes a necessity, Hary said Badmintun continues to survive because of the consistency of Badmintun’s organizers. They keep inviting Fortuners to join Badmintun via office’s emails. They also remind one another when they meet in the office. Up to now, they have not thought of creating a certain forum in social media for the 15 active Fortuners in Badmintun.

Fortuners are not charged to play badminton every Thursday at 8 to 10pm. Badmintun regularly rents two badminton courts for two hours in the sports building (GOR), Ragunan, Jakarta. For the sake of sport solidarity, Badmintun’s organizers usually take two rackets with them. One racket is used by them; the other racket is often to be lent to Fortuners who forget to bring a racket. Boisterous shouts of enthusiasm and laughter are heard from the badminton game. Fortuners play interchangeably regardless of the sweat that soaks their clothes.

“You can say this is an economical sport. Formerly, we had to pay some contribution, now we do not have to pay anymore because it does not exceed the budget,” said Hary, HCD Manager Assistant of Fortune Indonesia.

After thirteen years of existence, Badmintun keeps facing the same constraint that is the tight schedule of Fortuners. Hary recognizes that several Fortuners find it quite difficult to adjust Badmintun schedule with their schedule. However, Badmintun does not give up. Badmintun conducted breakthroughs such as making the uniforms. Besides, Badmintun has ever held a tournament and invited alumni of FORU.

To improve enthusiasm and solidarity, Badmintun plans to re-organize a tournament in special moments like Indonesian Independence Day on August 17. The tournament is believed to strengthen the relationship of existing players and attract other Fortuners to join Badmintun. Other plans include the regeneration of young players. The regeneration process will be supported by adequate infrastructure.

“The hope is that there will be more young players who have better stamina,” said Harry.

Kobatun Withstands to Keep Hospitality

Fortune Basket Community continues to survive not only for the hobby of playing basketball and the benefits to health, but also for maintaining the hospitality that exists between Fortuners and FORU’s alumni. Casual as well as serious conversations often occur in the field when the tight schedules of work in the office do not let them see one another. Office work can even be discussed in more detail after they play basketball.

“Besides for refreshment from work, Kobatun can also serve as a media for networking. Who knows one day we will be able to play together with clients,” said Erry Firmangus as Kobatun’s organizer.

The exercise is held every Wednesday at 8 to 10 pm at La Codefin Kemang Jakarta. Erry said we will play basketball even though there are only 6 players coming. Kobatun members are active in various social media to remind one another and share announcements. Office’s electronic mails are also used to announce the schedule and information regarding Kobatun to all Fortuners.

He acknowledged the tight schedule of work and schedule adjustments often become obstacles for Fortuners to join Kobatun. Other constraint, Erry added, is the costly rate to rent a basketball court for 2 years. Realizing this constraint, Kobatun members voluntarily raise funds which are collected to be Kobatun’s savings. Kobatun offers economical packages for those who want to join Kobatun. Erry said this system was able to foster a strong sense of belonging among active players so that they continue to play in Kobatun.

“The savings is usually used for emergencies, in case there are only few players coming and we need to rent a court,” said Erry.

The fundraising was also done by making jackets as merchandise to be sold to Fortuners. In the future, Erry will add other strategies to lure Fortuners to join Kobatun. Kobatun’s new uniform is one example. The uniform that certainly reads Fortune Indonesia is believed to give pride and pep Kobatun members up. Up to now, the design of the uniform is being finalized by Kobatun’s organizers.

“We are trying to rent a basketball court at GOR Ragunan that has more affordable rate,” said Erry, Fortune Indonesia Creative Group Head.

Erry hopes Kobatun will not only survive under the current circumstances. Hopefully, the number of Kobatun’s active members continues to grow and they can play on the court more efficiently with lower rental rates. The number of active members of Kobatun, said Erry, allows Kobatun to hold a competition. Kobatun’s wishful thinking is to hold internal and inter- agency competition.

Aerotun is Expected to be Reactivated

Hope is still there for Aerotun aka Aerobic Fortune to be active again. The activity that had triumphed for 8 months has been inactive due to several things. The main obstacle is Fortuners’ tight work schedule that often overlaps with Aerotun schedule every Wednesday at 5:30 pm.

“There were many participants, yet more and more members could not adjust with their work schedule. Some members are sometimes still having a meeting or meeting with clients,” said Iik Widati, a Fortuner who has been active in Aerotun.

Iik said aerobic brings many benefits. Although the exercise is only done once a week, aerobics can make the body fresh and eliminates work fatigue. Iik even does not mind if later she has to pay some contribution to hire an aerobics instructor.

When Aerotun was still active, about 4 to 8 Fortuners joined the exercise. Aerotun’s exercise was formerly located in Gedung Fortune on Jalan Jabir Jakarta. A female instructor taught aerobics, salsa, or belly dance for approximately 1.5 hours.

“We don’t get sick easily. I hope that aerotun or similar sports usually participated by women are held again.” said Iik.

 Kosaltun is Temporarily Inactive

Kosaltun (Fortune Futsal Community) is in similar condition as Aerotun. When Kosaltun is reactivated for Fortuners can not be ascertained.

Kosaltun was inactive after facing repeated obstacles. Hectic work schedules often make Kosaltun members unable to play futsal although the organizers have set a practice schedule once a week on Tuesdays. Back then, Kosaltun used to practice in futsal field on Jalan Durian, Ragunan, Jakarta.

“It takes a lot of players to play futsal, a minimum of 10 people for 1 full game. Well, it’s not easy to gather 10 people from different divisions with different work schedules and deadlines,” said Najib Rasyid, Kosaltun’s organizer.