Naturalization Right, Achievements Of The Indonesian National Team Soared

Photo Illustration By Andry Winarko VOI

JAKARTA The euphoria of football fans in the country is booming. How not, the achievements of the Indonesian national team under Shin Tae-yong (ASY) both at the senior and age group levels have increased significantly.

Indeed, there has not been a single trophy that the South Korean coach has won. But in terms of games and results in various tournaments, it is enough to generate optimism among Indonesian football lovers.

At the senior level, the Indonesian national team managed to qualify for the last 16 of the Asian Cup and had a great chance of qualifying for the third qualifying for the 2026 World Cup in the Asian zone. Most recently, STY managed to bring the U-23 national team to fourth place in the U-23 Asian Cup which opened up opportunities for participation in the 2024 Olympics if they were able to beat Guinea in the 9 May playoffs.

The increase in the Indonesian national team under STY did not happen suddenly. Since being recruited by the then chairman of PSSI, Mochamad Iriawan, last December 2019, the coach from Ginseng Country has dared to make breakthroughs that often cause controversy.

STY dares to cut a generation to form a 'new' Indonesian national team. Evan Dimas cs generation must be willing to end their dream of defending the national team because of this policy. STY chose young players to defend the national team both at the U-23 level and at the Senior National Team.

Not enough there, the Korean national team coach at the 2018 World Cup is also looking for Indonesian-blooded players who play abroad for naturalization. Naturalization is not new in order to boost Indonesia's football achievements.

PSSI's naturalization program was carried out in the 1950s. At that time, the majority of players were Dutch nationals such as Van der Berg, Pietersen, Pesch, Boelannrd van Tuyl, and Arnold van der Vin. Unfortunately, only Arnold van der Vin (positioned as goalkeeper) can penetrate the national team by making his debut in a friendly match against Hong Kong, 27 July 1952.

The naturalization trend of players developed again in the 2000s era. At that time, apart from Indonesian-blooded players, PSSI also accepted non-derived naturalization players. The player was given the status of an Indonesian citizen thanks to a brilliant football career with Indonesian clubs.

Call it names such as Yoo Jae-hoon, Cristian Gonzales, Ilija Spasojevic, Beto Goncalves, Victor Igbonefo and Bio Paulin. Together with other names such as Diego Michels, Raphael Maitimo, Irfan Bachdim, Kim Kurniawan to Ezra Walian, they are expected to be able to improve the achievements of the Indonesian national team at that time.

Naturalization Of STY Era For The Needs Of The Indonesian National Team

Entering the Shin Tae-yong era, naturalization continues. The difference is, now PSSI is now prioritizing players who really have Indonesian blood or descendants and are willing to play for the national team.

PSSI General Chair for the period November 2019-February 2023, Mochamad Iriawan considered that the pros and cons of STY's naturalization program were normal. In 2021, STY asked PSSI to regulate four players, namely Jordi Amat (KAS Eupen), Sandy Walsh (KV Mechelen), Kevin Diks (FC Copenhagen), and Mees Hilgers (FC Twenty).

"When it comes to debate, pros and cons, it's normal. Some want naturalization, some don't. As long as it's for the good of our national team, why not. This is what STY considered at that time for the naturalization of the four players," said Iwan Bule (Mul), Iriawan's nickname, Monday 6 May 2024.

Mother said, to fulfill STY's wishes, PSSI formed a special team led by PSSI Executive Committee (Exco) member Hasani Abdulgani. Hasani then communicated with the players through his agent.

According to him, PSSI contacted player agents to ask for proof of Indonesian descent. This is because PSSI does not want the four players to only claim to have Indonesian blood, but has no valid evidence. Mother gave an example, the naturalization process of Marc Klok who could not directly defend the Indonesian national team after being naturalized and had to wait five years because he had no descent documents, so a lesson.

"In addition, the team also went to Europe to communicate with the four players. This is proof that PSSI wants to make sure the players STY asked are completely in accordance with the rules. Although in the end we know that only Jordi (Amat) and Sandy (Walsh) are willing," added Ibun.

Turning to the era of Erick Thohir, PSSI is increasingly carrying out naturalization to the descendants recommended by STY. Names such as Shayne Pattynama, Rafael Struick, Ivar Jenner, Justin Hubner, Jay Idzes, Nathan Tjoe-A-On, Ragnar Oratmangoen, Thom Haye, and latest Maarten Paes are proof of PSSI and STY's seriousness in forming a solid Indonesian national team.

Exco PSSI member Arya Sinulingga is grateful that the Indonesian national team is currently without naturalization players. This is because Indonesian players in Europe are starting to be interested in changing citizenship. According to him, apart from STY, Erick Thohir's factor as chairman of PSSI also had a significant impact. Erick's figure, who had worked in European football with Inter Milan and Oxford United, made Indonesian-derived players in Europe optimistic about the future of the national team.

"We are lucky to have the former President of Inter Milan, then he also has Oxford, so when he is looking for Indonesian-blooded players, that's a lot of information, and he has a team to see whether or not it's a player. After being approved by STY, Mr. Erick also communicated directly with the target players to explain the target of the Indonesian national team," he explained.

"That's what happened and experienced by all the players, so don't be surprised that many want to, because Mr. Erick immediately intervened for a presentation about PSSI and the national team. One more thing, Mr. Erick also teased the players with increasing potential for fame. As predicting the player's personal social media will increase the number of followers once rumors about him want to be naturalized appear," continued Arya.

Naturalization Doesn't Kill Local Players

Even though in the STY era the naturalization program was based on needs and to improve the achievements of the Indonesian national team, it did not mean without rejection. For those who refuse, the naturalization program is considered to be able to kill the dreams of local players to strengthen the national team.

Football security, Binder Singh asked all stakeholders of Indonesian football not to worry about the naturalization program. Because, until now, the Indonesian national team under STY has been in good progress.

"Maybe there will also be 12-15 players of Indonesian descent. I think whoever will train the Indonesian national team will be professional, not necessarily play them all. No, you have to show quality," he said on Bung Binder's YouTube channel.

He also emphasized that the former coach of Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma did not forget the local players who took part in the competition in Liga 1 Indonesia. Local players such as Rizky Ridho, Wahyu Prasetyo, Witan Sulaiman were also given the opportunity to defend the Indonesian national team.

"It means, as long as the local player develops and his performance is good, of course he is called to the national team. So there is no need to worry," he added.

Another football observer, Justinus Lhaksana, is also reluctant to question the background of the national team player. According to the former coach of the Indonesian Futsal National Team, all children of the nation, either descendants or talents, have the same right to defend the Indonesian national team.

"We shouldn't think too much about local pride, local pride. It's better if local pride is great but in fact, it's not, if they are great, Shin Tae-yong doesn't have to look for naturalization," said Koci, Justinus' nickname quoted from the @halfblood_indonesie account.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian football legend, Rully Nere, assessed that the player naturalization program indirectly killed the motivation and dreams of local children who wanted to play for the Indonesian national team.

He is worried that the naturalization program can kill the motivation of young players who are currently being trained to become players in Indonesia's future. Because, when PSSI has been practicing desperately, in the end PSSI prefers naturalization of descendants.

"For me, for coaching and for our children who still have a future, naturalization indirectly kills their motivation. Because they are children who are now training half dead, suddenly there is naturalization. They must be disappointed," he said.

The Papuan-born striker stated that the presence of naturalized players does not guarantee that the Indonesian national team can triumph. Although, he still emphasized that he did not oppose the naturalization program.

"Our football can be good in the future, it can't be. For the World Cup, naturalization of the origin of the players is really but the quality is two. If (the quality) is the same, what for? There are those (naturalization players) we also can't reach the final. Naturalization for the World Cup for the sake of prestige, maybe for me one or two it's okay, but too much can't be done, "said Rully.

Football observer Tommy Welly said PSSI should have run a naturalization program as an acceleration and not a policy. This is because the formation of the national team must also not forget the competition.

The federation is not only (to take care of) the national team. The federation also has competitions, football development, law enforcement, international, and others, "Towel said, his nickname.

He believes that PSSI can fulfill STY's wishes for Indonesian-blooded players with grade A. But on the other hand, PSSI also cannot forget the local competition, which is expected to be the crater of local talent candradimuka before strengthening the Indonesian national team, still often goes beyond expectations.

Towel emphasized that the naturalization program should not make PSSI and the national team dependent on the diaspora players, and forget local players.'The critical question is, how long will this naturalization accelerate? Then how much? This must be thought of by the Federation," he said.