PSSI Chairman Ensures Ole Romeny Can Defend The Indonesian National Team In March

JAKARTA - PSSI General Chair (Ketum) Erick Thohir said that Ole Romeny would be able to defend the Indonesian national team. Erick said the player was prepared for the match against Bahrain and Australia in March 2025.

It is known that Erick Thohir had met directly with Ole on Saturday, November 17, 2024. After meeting face to face, he ensured that the striker would undergo naturalization for the sake of a new status as an Indonesian citizen.

"Ole (Romeny), if everything goes well, he will strengthen the Indonesian national team in March 2025. Yesterday, after the match I met Ole, it was beyond my usual," said Erick Thohir in a statement quoted Monday, November 18, 2024.

"Usually we meet, like this, I don't want to, because I see Ole is a very serious person. His skills are very high, even his love for Indonesia you can see," he said.

The meeting between Erick and Ole took place after the Indonesian vs Japan national team match which was won by the Blue Samurai. Seeing this situation, Indonesia's chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup are getting smaller.

This is an important question that Erick asked Ole.

"That's why after the match, I ask again, we lost 0-4 (over Japan). Sure? He said he was sure. He said he would be able to make changes for the Indonesian national team," said Erick.

"It's just a matter of how the composition of the team can go well. I think we have strengthened this team well," said the PSSI chairman again.

So far, the Indonesian national team has seen few players with striker positions. Previously, many players were naturalized by PSSI, but dominated by players with defenders, midfielders, and winners, not pure strikers.