Menpora Said About Sandy Walsh And Jordi Amat's Naturalization : It All Depends On The Speed Of Administration

Menpora Zainudin Amali (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Ministry of Youth and Sports (Kemenpora) is still waiting for the administrative completeness of the naturalization process for two soccer players of Indonesian descent, Sandy Walsh and Jordi Amat, who are expected to strengthen the national team.

"I'm waiting because he said there are still administrations that need to be completed and the federation is currently preparing it," said Menpora Zainudin Amali as quoted by Antara, Wednesday.

His party stated that the process at the Kemenpora would not take long as long as the administration was complete.

"Later it will take time at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights because there is a flow and it must be done carefully. But it all depends on the speed of administration," said the Minister of Youth and Sports.

The former chairman of Commission II of the DPR RI also said that he had communicated to coach Shin Tae-Yong (STY) that the two players who would be naturalized could still defend the Indonesian national team for the next several years.

Sandy Walsh and Jordi Amat fill the roster of regular players in their respective teams and have Indonesian ancestry.

Both of them also showed their seriousness to be part of the "Garuda" squad by completing the administration according to applicable laws.

Menpora Zainudin Amali agrees with the choice of players who are proposed to be naturalized and is in line with STY that it cannot be arbitrary in naturalizing athletes, in this case, football.

"The coach told me that he doesn't want to just naturalize players, even though the quality is not good. So hopefully junior players can be encouraged by the presence of naturalized players in the National Team," said the Menpora.

Meanwhile, PSSI targets naturalized players to be able to defend the Indonesian national team in the AFF Cup which is planned to be held at the end of 2022.

Two players each, Sandi Walsh (aged 26 years) is a player who plays as a right-back who is now strengthening the Belgian League club KV Mechelen.

One more name is 29-year-old Jordi Amat who plays as a central defender and currently plays for Belgian League club KAS Eupen.