Patrick Kluivert Invites 5 Local Players To Dinner: Mission To Get To Know More Close To The Garuda Squad

JAKARTA Patrick Kluivert, the new coach of the Indonesian national team, immediately moved quickly after being officially introduced by PSSI, Sunday 12 January. On the same night, Kluiver held a special dinner with five local Indonesian national team players as a first step to get to know the players who will be the backbone of the Garuda Squad.

This dinner took place at the Mulia Hotel, Jakarta, after Kluivert was officially announced as coach of the Indonesian national team at a press conference with two assistant coaches, Alex Pastoor and Denny Landzaat. However, Pastoor was not present at the moment.

Kluivert said this meeting was important to build a strong relationship and understand the character of the players. "I have scheduled dinner with five local players to get to know them more closely. In the next few months, I will also return to Indonesia to see the development of football at the grassroots level," Kluiver said at a press conference.

Although the names of the players invited were not specifically mentioned, the several players suspected of attending the meeting were Rizky Ridho, Witan Sulaeman, Muhammad Ferarri, Egy Maulana Vikri, and Ricky Kambuaya. These players are considered as representatives of the best generation of the Indonesian national team who are currently the mainstay.

On the same occasion, Kluivert also called Marselino Ferdinand one of the players who caught his eye. "Marselino Ferdinand is a player I like, but of course he is not the only one. I also see great potential from other players," said Kluiver.

Kluivert, formerly known as Barcelona legend and former coach of the Curacao National Team, officially contracted PSSI for a duration of two years to 2027, with the option of an extension. He has a tough task to bring Indonesia to compete in the international arena, including passing the national team to the 2026 World Cup.

In less than two months, Kluivert will lead the Indonesian national team in the continuation of Group C of the 2026 Asian Zone World Cup Qualification. On March 20, 2025, Indonesia is scheduled to meet Australia in Sydney, followed by the match against Bahrain at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, on March 25, 2025.

Indonesia is currently in third place with six points, only one point adrift of Australia in second place. The opportunity to qualify for the 2026 World Cup is still wide open, and Kluiver is optimistic that it can provide significant changes for the Indonesian national team.

"This is a big challenge, but we will work hard to achieve the targets that have been set. The team and I will try to give our best for Indonesia," said Kluiver excitedly.

High hopes are now on the shoulders of Patrick Kluivert. With his strategic approach and international experience, this Dutch coach is expected to be able to bring the Garuda Squad to fly higher in the world football arena