Gencar Naturalization, Buyar Development

Tommy Welly criticized football's development in the midst of the intense naturalization project (VOI/Ulfa Gusti).

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Football Federation (PSSI) has recently been aggressively naturalizing descendants.

This step still gives rise to pros and cons even though they have the final goal of strengthening the Indonesian national team.

The massive federation of naturalization is considered a shortcut and has a great chance of ruling out the talents born from grassroots and competitions in the country.

This statement was made by Tommy Welly as an observer of Indonesian football at the Discussion on Drinking Down in the Central Jakarta area, Thursday, December 21, 2023.

To my knowledge, the face of football or the structure of football in a country is a pyramid. Where the lowest is grassroot (roots), this must be a very large number because almost every child plays football. He is 8 to 12 years old," said the man who is familiarly called Bung Towel.

Then, there will be another level to Youth, which is 13 to 17 years old. SSB and they (ball players) will be educated again at the elite level. For example EPA or the national age group team. Later, those who managed to rise again, they went to the club's professional elite. This shows a shrinking pyramid.

"However, will everyone enter (to the club professional)? Not necessarily. Well, the top one is the national team," he continued.

From the grassroot level trip, talented players will be able to dock to the club for proof of themselves with qualified quality who will also open up the possibility of appearing at the national team level.

With the incessant naturalization of mixed-blooded players, Bung Towel considered this situation to be able to eliminate the real function of competition in producing players.

"So, the national team has never been a factor in itself. The national team is part of this process (the emergence of players from grassroots and local competitions)."

"Just remember again, PSSI can naturalize 15 to 18 players at once. Exco PSSI can decide on 11 naturalized players."

"However, at the same time questions will come to PSSI and football lovers, where is the position of our competition? What are the contributions (competition and grassroots)?" said Bung Towel.

Furthermore, he also expressed concern for PSSI which was considered too focused on the achievements of the national team.

In fact, according to him, PSSI must also be responsible for Indonesian football as a whole, including developing potential competitions in the country.

"PSSI has a responsibility to advance national football, one of which makes our national team strong."

"So it should be for naturalization that we don't have a debate about whether or not it is appropriate because the legal corridor is clear".

"However, we question the direction of our football development. If the current PSSI decides on all naturalization, it could be."

"Then, the question will come where is the position of our competition? If naturalization is only used as a beacon but the foundation is forgotten, then it will not be anything," he said.

Naturalization or citizenship in the eyes of the law is indeed the right of everyone. According to law, there are several ways to get Indonesian citizens.

From the old rules of residence, lineage, marriage, to those used in the field of sports which actually clearly refer to appreciation and achievements.

However, the ease of getting citizenship for the names of athletes offered by PSSI, especially the emergence of Permenpora Number 10 of 2023, made the development of Indonesian football a question mark.

Acceleration of upgrading the national team level is fine, but has naturalization previously been effective as a shortcut to raise the level of the national team?

Then, while aggressively carrying out naturalization, has the federation, in this case as a responsible organization, carried out coaching programs properly?

In line with Tommy Welly, the National Presidium for Indonesian Football Supporters (PNSSI) also criticized the issue of coaching in the midst of the incessant naturalization project.

"When it comes to naturalization of the national team, this practice is not new. The era of Nurdin Halid has already talked about this. However, naturalization must be considered in its entirety."

"What is offered (players to be naturalized) by Exco and Menpora is indeed the majority diaspora. Now from fans like this, this national team, fans will support anything and after all, the national team competes. There has never been a fuss about naturalization and the players are anyone's products."

"Then the long term is not enough to get there. There need to be infrastructure and coaching facilities."

"Well, coaching must be sustainable. If the Asprov (PSSI Province Association) has been provided with funding, it should have carried out coaching or held a tiered early age competition so that it ends up meeting."

"However, what is seen now as a whole is not yet. That's why, as fans, we control social for the federation. So, for the good of national football, we must work together according to our respective duties and functions," said Richard Ahcmad, Secretary General of PNSI.

Naturalization has always been a polemic. VOI will discuss it in its entirety related to naturalization polemics, especially soccer athletes.