Naturalization Of Flash Mees Hilgers And Eliano Reijnders Because The Indonesian National Team Needs It

Mees Hilgers is projected to appear on the closest 2026 World Cup Qualification agenda (Instagram/@meeshilgerss).

JAKARTA - PSSI through the Secretary-General (Secretary General), Yunus Nusi, explained the reason why the naturalization of Mees Hilgers and Eliano Reijnders seemed fast. This was deliberately done so that these two players could defend the Indonesian national team in the Third Round of the 2026 World Cup Qualification.

So far, the naturalization of the two players has indeed been approved by Commission III and X of the DPR RI in a working meeting on Tuesday, September 17, 2024. In the next stage, the naturalization request will be brought to the DPR Plenary Session to be ratified.

Then, the next route to the Ministry of State Secretary to obtain a decree from President Jokowi. Finally, taking an oath with the Ministry of Law and Human Rights (Kemenkumham).

Seeing the rapid process, Yunus Nusi said that later the presence of Mees and Eliano would increase the strength of the Indonesian national team in Group C of the Third Round of the 2026 Asian Zone World Cup Qualification. Especially now that the Garuda Squad recorded quite a slick score by drawing in the first two matches.

"The potential for the Indonesian national team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. We together with the Indonesian national team can draw with Saudi Arabia and Australia, so Shin Tae-yong and PSSI chairman Erick Thohir decided to add these two players to strengthen the Indonesian national team," said Yunus Nusi quoted on Wednesday, September 18, 2024.

Lebih lanjut soal naturalisasi Mees dan Eliano, Yunus menyebut bahwa kedua pemain tersebut dianggap memang punya talent yang dibutuhkan Timnas Indonesia. Setelah dipantau detail oleh Shin Tae-yong, keduanya pun diajukan sang pelatih untuk segera diprut ke tim.

"They have skills and are recommended by Shin Tae-yong," he said.

Yunus Nusi expressed great hope for the presence of Mees and Eliano in the Indonesian national team. He wants the presence of these two players to help the team win in the 2026 World Cup Qualification.

In the nearest match, the Indonesian national team has indeed been scheduled to fight Bahrain (10 October 2024) and China (15 October 2024).

"We hope that both of them can strengthen the Indonesian national team and they can win the match," he said.