JAKARTA - The naturalization project is still an option even though the PSSI has moved from Mochammad Iriawan to Erick Thohir in February 2023.

Wrapped in the phrase quality acceleration for the Indonesian national team, naturalization is like the main program. A series of official names with Indonesian passports this year, such as Justin Hubner, Rafael Struick, and Ivar Jenner.

Two other names will soon follow to become Indonesian citizens with a lightning process, namely Jay Idzes and Nathan Tjoe-A-Oen. Ragnar Oratmangoen and Maarten Paes are the following shots.

The incessant naturalization that seems to be a 'golden child' makes other sectors a question mark. How about coaching? Is naturalization effective as a'short'?

Indonesian football observer, Tommy Welly, in the previous VOI article regarding the naturalization polemic, pointed out that PSS must be responsible for improving in coaching.

Good coaching should be the main program so that the Indonesian national team has many choices of quality players.

Next, Towel, as Tommy Welly is called, targets the effectiveness of naturalization in order to upgrade the quality of the Indonesian national team so that they have competitiveness at a higher level.

In fact, Tommy saw that his direction was to commercialize local players and naturalize their abilities or quality.

The performance of the Indonesian national team with the addition of naturalized players so far has not shown a significant increase.

"I want the Indonesian national team coach to be more wise so that there is no local dichotomy or naturalization. I want to put everything in a proportional and objective position."

"Before fighting the irak (World Cup Qualification 2026) in November 2023, Shin Tae-yong was interviewed by South Korean media. He said with naturalization, the Indonesian national team was scary. The result was a loss of 1-5 (vs Iraq)."

"Previously, there were rumors in cyberspace that we were at the Asian level, prove it then. He said naturalization players made the Indonesian national team scary. Local players have mental weaknesses afraid of losing."

"Why hasn't that shortfall been fixed for four years of coaching. We ordinary people know that. Is it true that all of our local players are mentally ill? Is it true that our local players can't pass? Not necessarily. I don't believe they can't all pass."

"Finally, during the Justin Hubner process, PSSI Secretary General in front of the DPR RI Commission III and X, he said the reason STY asked naturalized players was so that the Indonesian national team could compete because now our domestic players cannot compete," said Tommy.

The assumption about naturalized players being better than local is clearly still wanging. Tommy Welly said that the failure of the Indonesian national team was actually influenced by many factors, as he gave an example of Luis Milla's statement, the coach before Shin Tae-yong.

"This is the first time I've heard the coach of the Indonesian national team talk like that. Luis Milla has never spoken of bad Indonesian national team players."

"When asked about our football problems, he called coaching, infrastructure, and competition. He never said our players weren't ready at the Asian level. I've never had a previous coach statement that democratizes local players and naturalizes," said Towel.

Not surprisingly, Towel asked for clear accountability and proof of the naturalization program. He highlighted the results for naturalization in previous naturalization projects that were not effective for the improvement of the Indonesian national team as well as the transfer knowledge that is often touted.

Towel emphasized the need for key performance indicators (KPI) as well as clear targets so that it becomes a measure that many people can see regarding the success or failure of naturalization.

"Now why do we only hear the temporary reasons that he (Shin Tae-yong) did not concretely target the champion PSSI requested."

"In fact, his request for naturalization has been given. If the naturalization program has been given then what is the KPI? Iraq's opponent conceded five goals, against the Philippines 1-1. If he is fair, apologize. That's fair. There was a mistake or error."

"He himself spoke when we were at the Asian level, not at the AFF level. So, it's fair if we ask for accountability," said Towel at the Discussion of Drinking Down.

Tommy Welly further does not get tired of targeting KPI and measurable targets. If you want to aggressively carry out naturalization, go ahead as long as there is a clear calculation of the success or not.

The problem is, naturalization or citizenship is the right of everyone with many entrances. However, the naturalization problem in the Indonesian national team should not be as it has been.

Gencar did naturalization, but in the end it was in vain because there was no significant impact given by these players.

In addition, the need to have greater attention to coaching and competition so that it is not only naturalized as a shortcut.

"What is the objective now? He (Shin Tae-yong) has been given naturalization, what is the contribution back? The target (coach) in the 2023 Asian Cup is the last 16, if it doesn't work, what else? There is no coach who is considered a god in any country. We are talking about his objectives, "continued Bung Towel.

I want this country's football to run in the correct corridor. Not consideration or support for netizens.

Not to mention the question related to the role of our competition. We want to take a shortcut. This is a policy or acceleration. When it comes to shortcuts, it means temporary. So, the benchmark is successful or not? " said Tommy Welly.

Naturalization is a full pros and cons program. VOI discussed this naturalization polemic from various perspectives.


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