PUTRA SEI.BROMBANG BERPRESTASI

Ternyata bermain biliar kalau ditekuni dengan serius bisa membuahkan hasil yang begitu besar.

Betapa tidak sejak menandatangani kontrak menjadi atlet yang terpilih mengikuti PAL Ricky Yang dibayar sekitar Rp5 miliyar selama empat tahun lebih.
Lain lagi dari hasil pendapatan dengan pihak Guinness dengan kontrak sebesar 1 miliar.2) mengatakan pesan Menpora kepadanya setelah terpilih mengikuti program PAL, ia jangan lagi memikirkan tentang kebutuhan hidup.

“Semua kebutuhan hidupnya akan dibiayai negara selama jangka waktu empat tahun kedepan, yang penting ia harus terus latihan dengan baik” ujarnya.
Menurut Ricky Yang ada empat atlet biliar yang terpilih mengikuti program PAL, ia dan rekannya Angeline Magdalena menjadi andalan Indonesia sedangkan dua lagi Soewito dan Fani Lestari masuk dalam katagori pratama.

Menurutnya program pemerintah membuat PAL merupakan hal luar biasa yang bertujuan menciptakan atlet berprestasi.

Selain itu, dari program tersebut juga diharapkan atlet andalan dan keluarga akan lebih sejahtera dan diharapkan para atlet tidak akan berpikiran ‘macam-macam’ lagi untuk mencari tambahan memenuhi kebutuhan hidup.

Karena dana yang diberikan pemerintah dipastikan sudah mencukupi” tambahnya.

Untuk itu setelah terpilih ini Ricky Yang berjanji akan lebih tekun dan membuat prestasi sesuai dengan harapan Menpora untuk menjadi yang terbaik di SEA Games XXVI-2011.

Ricky Yang yang merupakan pemilik rumah biliar Champions di Tanjung Morawa ini mulai menggeluti biliar berawal dari hanya sekedar hobi.
Hobi yang digeluti sejak duduk dibangku SD Kihajar Dewantoro di Sei Brombang dan hanya menyelesaikan sekolah hingga kelas 4 SD tersebut, selalu menyempatkan diri bermain biliar. “waktu itu hanya sekadar belajar menyodok bola.

“Walau aku tidak menjadi pegawai negeri tapi aku juga digaji oleh negara” ujarnya dengan penuh rasa bangga.

Keberhasilan ini semua tak terlepas dari motifasi yang diberikan abangda tercinta Riyanto Yang.

“Bantuannya untuk menjadikan aku seorang pebiliar profesional begitu tulus hingga bisa berbuah manis” ujar Ricky Yang.

Sepintas Tentang Ricky Yang

Stik kesayangan Ricky Yang, 36 tahun terbuat dari kombinasi kayu maple, ebony, dan gading. Ringan namun mantap di tangan. Tapi hati-hati, tongkat sodok bermerek Southwest ini sungguh mahal. ”Rp 47,5 juta,” kata pria itu tenang.

Dia satu-satunya pebiliar Indonesia yang diundang tampil dalam turnamen yang diikuti pebiliar tangguh di kawasan Asia.

Ini adalah kedua kalinya Ricky tampil di turnamen tersebut. ”Tahun lalu saya juga ikut,” katanya. Prestasinya di Sea Games Thailand 2007, sebagai peraih emas, menjadi salah satu penyebab dia mendapatkan wild card.

Membungkuk, membidik bola, dan memukulnya, menjadi santapan Ricky sejak berusia 12 tahun. Itu terjadi lantaran di rumahnya tiba-tiba saja datang sebuah meja biliar yang merupakan hadiah dari seorang kaya di kampungnya. ”Karena bapak saya berhasil mengobati anaknya,” ujar ayah tiga anak ini.

Jelas, meja ini menambah kesibukan bagi ayah Ricky, yang bekerja sebagai sinshe. Sang ayah membuka rumah biliar untuk memperoleh penghasilan tambahan.

Di kampung halamannya, Sungai Brombang, Labuhan Batu, biliar adalah hiburan banyak orang. Maklum, ketika itu kota terbilang sepi. Tidak ada kendaraan bermotor di sana. Jalan pun hanya bisa dilewati becak. ”Satu-satunya kendaraan yang ada adalah mobil jenazah, itu pun sudah rusak,” ujarnya sambil tergelak.

Bagi Ricky sendiri, biliar menjadi teman yang mengasyikkan. Karena sering melihat dan membantu orang bermain biliar, Ricky mulai tertarik. ”Kalau ada orang main, saya yang memasang bolanya,” ujar peraih medali emas nomor 9 bola perorangan putra pada SEA Games 2007 di Thailand. Tapi itu tidak mulus. Ayahnya melarang dia. Sekolah menjadi prioritas utama. Maklum, menyodok bola membuatnya kecanduan, hingga lupa belajar.

Akhirnya Ricky berhasil menggauli permainan ini tanpa larangan sang ayah. Tapi bukan karena ayahnya berubah pikiran. Penghasilan orang tuanya yang pas-pasan membuat dia putus sekolah di kelas empat sekolah dasar. Sejak itulah Ricky berlatih biliar secara otodidak sepanjang hari. Kemahiran Ricky bermain biliar menarik minat banyak orang.

Salah satu dari mereka meminta izin kepada ayah Ricky untuk membawanya bertanding ke daerah lain. Ricky memperoleh kemenangan ketika bermain biliar melawan juara kabupaten di Rantau Prapat, Sumatera. ”Waktu itu saya umur 15 tahun,” tuturnya. Karena bermain bagus dan selalu menang, dia pun kerap diajak keliling daerah untuk bertanding biliar. ”Ibaratnya saya ini petarungnya,” ujarnya sambil tertawa.

Sayang, kemalangan menghadang. Rumahnya habis terbakar, termasuk tempat usaha biliar yang dikelola ayahnya. Dalam keadaan susah dan tidak mau merepotkan orang tuanya, pada usia 16 tahun Ricky memutuskan merantau ke Pematangsiantar, Sumatera Utara. Dia bekerja serabutan, termasuk membantu kawan ayahnya berjualan ikan. ”Saya tidak main biliar lagi saat itu,” katanya.

Sejak dua tahun lalu, Ricky menetap di Pekalongan, Jawa Tengah. Willyanto, pemilik perusahaan Teh Bandulan, menyediakan tempat berlatih. Ricky tidak lagi memikirkan kebutuhan keluarganya. Ia pun bersedia memakai nama perusahaan teh Bandulan di bajunya setiap bertanding sampai sekarang. ”Mereka sudah banyak membantu saya,” ujarnya.

Pekalongan menjadi tempat persinggahan Ricky paling akhir, setelah merantau ke berbagai daerah mulai dari Batam, Tanjung Pinang, dan Riau. Bersama kawannya, Ricky memutuskan pergi ke Jawa dan bermain biliar di beberapa daerah. ”Saya hidup dari taruhan main biliar,” ujarnya.

Lalu dia sempat mundur dari biliar. Pindah ke Medan, dia mulai membina rumah tangga dan bekerja di sebuah pabrik kayu. Karier Ricky di biliar kembali terbuka ketika pada 2005 dia ikut kejuaraan biliar di Manado dan menang.

Ricky pernah berhasil mengalahkan pebiliar kelas dunia asal Amerika Serikat, Earl Strickland, dalam sebuah pertandingan ekshibisi. Jalannya kembali terang. Dari situlah Ricky diajak bergabung ke tim Jawa Tengah.

Jalan mulus? Tidak. Meski berbagai arena telah dia masuki, satu persoalan yang belum dapat dia atasi adalah pengelolaan tekanan psikologis, terutama dalam turnamen resmi. Itu sebabnya, kadang dia pun dipeluk kegugupan, seperti yang terjadi di Sea Games 2007. Saat itu dia harus melawan Lee Vann Corteza, pebiliar kenamaan asal Filipina. ”Saking takutnya, saya sampai sembah-sembah bola sembilan supaya masuk,” ujar Ricky. Dia beruntung. Saat itu dia menang.

Sayang, ceritanya berbeda di turnamen biliar internasional Guinness 9 ball Tour 2008. Dia gagal masuk semifinal. ”Saya agak gugup,” ujarnya. Dia mengaku kalah pengalaman. ”Dia lebih banyak bertanding dan mentalnya lebih siap,” ujarnya tentang lawannya.

It turned out to play billiards when engaged with seriously can produce such great results.

Why not since signed a contract to be an athlete who was elected following the PAL Ricky Yang paid around Rp 5 billion over four years.
Another of the revenue with the Guinness with a contract for 1 miliar.2) said Menpora message to him after his election following the PAL program, he was no longer thinking about the necessities of life.

"All their needs will be financed by the state for a period of four years, the importance he must continue to practice well" he said.
According to Ricky Yang of billiards there are four athletes were selected following the PAL program, he and his partner Angelina Magdalena become a mainstay of Indonesia, while two more Soewito and Fani pratama Sustainable included in the category.

According to government programs to make PAL is remarkable that aims to create outstanding athlete.

In addition, the program is also expected to pledge athletes and families will be more prosperous and hoped the athletes would not think 'all kinds' again to seek additional ends meet.

Because the funds provided by the government confirmed to be sufficient "he added.

For that after this selected Ricky Yang promised to be more diligent and make achievements in line with expectations Menpora to be the best at the SEA Games XXVI-2011.

Ricky Yang who is the owner's house in Tanjung Morawa Champions billiards is starting to cultivate billiards originated from just a hobby.
They work at a hobby since elementary school sits dibangku Kihajar Dewantoro in Sei Brombang and just finishing school up to grade 4 elementary school, always make themselves available to play billiards. "This time poking the ball just learning.
"Although I did not become public servants but I also paid by the state" he said with great pride.

This success was despite all the motivation provided abangda beloved Riyanto Yang.
"Help to make me a professional pebiliar so sincerely that we can bear fruit sweet" said Ricky Yang.

At a glance About Ricky Yang

Stik favorite Ricky Yang, 36 years old made from a combination of maple wood, ebony, and ivory. Light but steady in the hand. But be careful, pool stick branded Southwest is really expensive. "USD 47.5 million," the man said calmly.

He was the only Indonesian who was invited pebiliar appear in a tournament that followed pebiliar strong in Asia.

This is the second time Rick perform in the tournament. "Last year I also joined," he said. Her achievements in the SEA Games Thailand 2007, as the gold medalist, is one reason he got the wild card.
Bend, aiming the ball, and hit him, become a meal Ricky since he was 12 years old. It happened because in his house suddenly came a pool table which is a gift from a rich man in his village. "Because my father managed to treat her son," said the father of three children.

Clearly, these tables add to busy for Ricky's father, who worked as sinshes. The father opened the pool house to earn extra income.

In his hometown, River Brombang, Labuhan Batu, billiards is entertainment of many people. Understandably, when the city was fairly quiet. There are no vehicles there. The road was passable only pedicab. "The only vehicles that there is a hearse, it was already broken," he said with a chuckle.

For Ricky himself, billiards to be a friend that's fun. Because they often see and help people play billiards, Ricky began to be interested. "If there are people playing, I who put the ball," said the gold medalist in individual ball number 9 son at the SEA Games 2007 in Thailand. But it was not smooth. His father forbade him. Schools a top priority. Understandably, poking the ball makes it an addiction, so forget learning.

Ricky finally succeeded in intercourse with this game without his father's ban. But not because his father changed his mind. Income parents who just barely make him out of school in fourth grade elementary school. Since then Rick practicing billiards in a self-taught throughout the day. Ricky playing billiards skills attracted many people.

One of them asked permission to take her dad Rick to compete to other areas. Rick obtained a victory when playing billiards against district champion in Rantau Prapat, Sumatra. "At that time I was age 15 years," he said. Since playing well and always win, he is often invited to tour the area to play billiards. "It was like I was petarungnya," he said with a laugh.

Unfortunately, adversity is facing. Her house burned down, including billiard establishments run by his father. In difficult circumstances and did not want to bother their parents, at age 16 decided to migrate to Pematangsiantar Ricky, North Sumatra. He worked odd jobs, including helping his father selling fish. "I'm not playing pool again at the time," he said.
Since two years ago, Ricky settled in Pekalongan, Central Java. Willyanto, owner of Tea balls, providing a place to practice. Ricky is no longer thinking about the needs of his family. He was willing to take the name of the tea company's hanger in her clothes every match until now. "They've helped me a lot," he said.

Pekalongan been a haven Ricky at the end, having migrated to various areas ranging from Batam, Tanjung Pinang, and Riau. Together with his friend, Ricky decides to go to Java and play pool in some areas. "I live from betting playing pool," he said.

Then he had retreated from the pool. Move to Medan, he began building homes and working in a wood factory. Rick's career in the pool back open when in 2005 he participated in Manado and billiards championship win.

Ricky has managed to beat the world-class pebiliar from the United States, Earl Strickland, in an exhibition match. The road back to the light. From there, Rick was invited to join the team of Central Java.

Smooth road? No. Although many had he entered the arena, one problem that he can not tackle is the management of psychological pressure, especially in official tournaments. That's why, sometimes he also embraced Twitter, as happened in the Sea Games 2007. At that time he had against Lee Vann Corteza, pebiliar famous Filipina. "I was so scared, I came to worship-worship nine balls to go," said Ricky. He was lucky. At that time he won.

Unfortunately, the story is different in international billiards tournament Guinness 9 Ball Tour 2008. He failed to enter semifinals. "I was pretty nervous," he said. He conceded defeat experience. "He's playing more and more mentally prepared," he said about his opponent.