Atep: The Story of the "Lost Child" Who Returned to Bandung for His Childhood Dream

For fans of Football in West Java, the name Atep personifies loyalty and hard work. During a warm conversation at ITSMe studio in Sentul, Bogor, this man nicknamed "Lord Atep" shared an inspiring story rarely known to the public—from childhood dream "betrayal" to his transformation into a Marathon runner after retirement.

Persija: Stepping Stone Toward Dreams
Though born in Cianjur and dreaming of Persib since childhood, fate brought young Atep to Jakarta. Joining Persija in 2004 wasn't an easy choice, but he knew Persib then overlooked unknown young players. Persija became his crucible for mental fortitude. "Persija helped me," he admitted. There, he honed his mentality alongside national team seniors until finally catching Persib management's attention.

His 2008 move to Bandung holds a unique tale. Fearful of being branded a traitor by Persija supporters, Atep didn't dare collect his belongings from Jakarta Mess personally. He had management secretly transport his items to Bogor for discreet retrieval.

The Lord Philosophy and Discipline
His "Lord" nickname emerged from Bobotoh fans' appreciation for his extraordinary consistency. To him, consistency isn't mere talent but the result of insane training. In his youth, Atep routinely trained four times daily. His discipline even extended to small details: he's kept the same barber since 2007 to maintain his iconic mohawk hairstyle.

Looking Ahead: Marathons and Coaching
After retiring from Persib in 2018, Atep kept moving. He now actively runs marathons, having completed Tokyo Marathon. His goal is to conquer all World Major Marathons. "Post-retirement, I feel reborn as an athlete," he said. Yet Football remains his heartbeat. Armed with a B coaching license, Atep aims to develop agile, character-driven new generations, following in the footsteps of Beckham Putra whom he calls the rightful heir to the number 7 jersey.

Atep concluded with high optimism for Indonesian National Team under John Herdman. As an ex-player, he hopes the New Coach will become a history-maker quenching Indonesia's thirst for achievement.