JAKARTA - The General Chairperson (Ketum) of PSSI, Erick Thohir, gave the latest news about the progress of two prospective naturalized players for the Indonesian national team, Jairo Riedewald and Ole Romeny.

Although still in the initial process, Erick Thohir said the effort was going positively. For Ole Romeny, the player has even undergone a medical test and is just waiting for the schedule for taking the oath of Indonesian citizens (WNI).

"I don't think coach Patrick Kluivert talked about that number (the naturalized player) yesterday."

"However, what was conveyed was that one of the players when it was announced that coach Patrick joined (to the Indonesian national team), whose response was Jairo Riedewald, it was still a process," said Erick Thohir at a press conference at the Kemenpora Building, Jakarta, Monday, January 13, 2025.

"If Ole (Romeny) himself has checked his health, he has gone to the embassy, just waiting for the Indonesian citizen's oath. If Jairo is still in process," said the PSSI chairman.

Furthermore, Erick stated that PSSI has the support of many parties related to the naturalization of Jairo and Ole Romeny. Erick said the Minister of Youth and Sports (Menpora), Minister of Law and Human Rights (Menkumham), the House of Representatives (DPR), and President Prabowo Subianto support every step PSSI is taking.

"Regarding naturalized players, we'll just wait for the process because everything has a process. The Minister of Youth and Sports has called the Minister of Law and Human Rights and they support it as usual."

"We have also socialized to the DPR asking for support, even President Prabowo highly upholds how our nation can be seen as a world," said Erick Thohir.

Regarding the two prospective players who are new residents of the Garuda Squad, Jairo Reidewald is a player who is now defending Royalanyatwerp in a defender position. He can undergo the naturalization process because he has Indonesian blood from his mother.

Even though he has strengthened the Dutch National Team three times, Jairo can still strengthen the Indonesian national team because of the new FIFA regulations.

Meanwhile, Ole Romeny is a striker who has just been recruited by Oxford United. The 24-year-old player can be naturalized because his grandmother was born in Medan, North Sumatra.

It is hoped that Jairo and Ole Romeny will be able to strengthen the Indonesian national team against Australia on March 20, 2025, and Bahrain on March 21, 2025 in the Third Round of the 2026 World Cup Qualification.


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