JAKARTA - Mees Hilgers revealed his reason for choosing to strengthen the Indonesian national team rather than stay in the Netherlands.
Mees admitted that the decision to undergo naturalization as an Indonesian citizen (WNI) had passed careful consideration. He chose Indonesia because he felt he had a connection with Red and White.
"I certainly think about it (going naturalization to Indonesia or still the Netherlands). However, Indonesia is a big country and there is so much blood (Indonesia) in myself and my family," he said as quoted by Voetbalprimeur on Thursday, September 19, 2024.
Currently Mees is actually a player who defended the Dutch club, FC Twenty, and has defended the Dutch national team for the age group. However, the 23-year-old finally decided to defend the Indonesian national team.
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"Of course the Dutch national team is very, very interesting. This is one of the best national teams in the world. However, playing for Indonesia is as special as playing with the Dutch national team," he said.
After naturalization was approved at the DPR RI Plenary Meeting, Thursday, September 19, 2024, Mees Hilgers' opportunity to defend the Indonesian national team grew closer.
The reason is, this weekend or Sunday, September 22, 2024, Mees Hilgers and Eliano Reijnders are scheduled to take the oath of Indonesian citizens (WNI) at the Indonesian Embassy in the Netherlands.
This was conveyed by the Minister of Law and Human Rights (Menkumham), Supratman Andi Agtas, previously separately.
"Maybe on Sunday, representatives of the Director General of AHU will go there. Hopefully on Monday the process can be carried out," said Supratman.
Currently, it means that there is only one working day left for Mees Hilgers and Eliano Reijnders to receive a Decree from President Joko Widodo if the oath-taking agenda is scheduled for Sunday, September 22, 2024 local time.
If it goes according to plan, Mees Hilgers and Eliano Reijnders can be registered in the Indonesian national team to appear in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers against Bahrain (10 October 2024) and China (15 October 2024).
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