SPORT – Football in Papua always gives rise to new talents in every generation. When talking about talented footballers from the land of Papua, most people will give the name of the mainstay striker, namely Boaz Solossa. However, long before Boaz’s name became as famous as it is today, there was the name of a Papuan-born footballer who had succeeded in becoming an idol at both club and national team level. This player who has legendary status is Rully Rudolf Nere or better and mostly people known as Rudolf Nere.
Rully Nere football career could be said to have been brilliant. Starting from playing for local clubs such as Persipura Jayapura and then moving to several clubs that took part in the United League and Galatama. Apart from spending his football career in Indonesian competitions, Rully Nere has also competed in competitions between countries in Asia. Rully Nere plays as a midfielder, and succeeded in getting the highest record for an Indonesian club when defending Yanita Utama by taking him to the final match of the Asian club competition in Saudi Arabia. Even though we have to admit the superiority of opponents from Thailand, their achievement as runner-up has not been equaled by any Indonesian club.
Rully Nere’s intelligent play as a midfielder can be seen from how midfielders are a position that is synonymous with hard work and tends to play rough, but he equaled the record of a football player from Great Britain, Gary Lineker. His intelligence can be seen in how throughout his career, Rully Nere has never received a yellow card. A hard-working midfielder who must be ready to commit a foul but has never received a yellow card during his career shows Rully Nere’s intelligence in making decisions as a general in the midfield.
After retiring as a professional football player, Rully Nere tried his hand at coaching. Starting from the coach of Indonesian clubs that compete in the Indonesian League such as PSPS Pekanbaru to crossing over to Persiba Bantul. Apart from being a coach at club level, just like when he was still playing football, For the latest information obtained, Rully Nere is now trusted to be the coach of the Indonesian women’s national football team.
Both as a player and coach, means that Rully Nere can be said to be a living legend who can inspire new generations of football talent in Papua and even throughout Indonesia. The records that have been recorded and are still difficult to equal or surpass create motivation for football players who are still active to at least be able to bring Indonesian clubs to achieve success on the Asian football stage..