The Ministry Of Law And Human Rights Calls The Naturalization Of Athletes To Strengthen The Indonesian Football National Team

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Law (Kemenhum) assesses that the naturalization of athletes of Indonesian descent has made the Indonesian National Football Team (Timnas) stronger, thus increasing the optimism of Indonesian football fans.

Director General of General Legal Administration (AHU) of the Ministry of Law Cahyo Rahadian Muzhar said that athlete naturalization is in line with President Prabowo Subianto's Astacita mission and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka in strengthening human resource development (HR) and sports achievements.

"The government opens up opportunities for foreign nationals (foreigners) who have Indonesian descent to become Indonesian citizens (WNI) and contribute to the nation and state," Cahyo said quoting Antara.

He emphasized that the willingness of talented athletes of Indonesian descent to become Indonesian citizens is a positive thing related to Indonesia's efforts to get potential human resources towards Indonesia Gold 2045.

Most recently, the Indonesian Ministry of Law has carried out the oath of citizenship by the Indonesian Ministry of Law on the naturalization of three soccer athletes of Indonesian descent, namely Kevin Diks, Estellawas Loupatty, and Noamen Christina Cornelia Leatomu at the Indonesian Embassy (KBRI) in Copenhagen, Denmark, Friday (8/11).

Cahyo explained that the naturalization of the three soccer athletes was the result of collaboration and synergy between ministries/agencies and through various stages to obtain approval from the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR).

Kevin is expected to contribute optimally in strengthening the Indonesian National Team in the Third Round of Asian Zone Qualification for the 2026 World Cup, ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2024, AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027, as well as the target of ranking the top 100 FIFA and ranking the top 10 Asia.

While Noa and Estella are projected to strengthen the women's national team in the 2024 AFF Women's Cup, the first and second rounds of the 2026 AFC U-20 Asian Cup Qualification, and the 2025 FIFA Women Match Day.

Both are also expected to be able to increase the ranking of the women's FIFA national team so that they can enter the top 5 in Asia and in the long term they can enter the top 40 in the world.

After officially becoming an Indonesian citizen, all Indonesian people hope in these three athletes, especially football fans, to improve the achievements of the Garuda national team in the international football arena.