Not Yet Naturalized Any Attacker, Shin Tae-Yong: No One Stands Out In My Eyes Yet

Indonesian national team coach Shin Tae-yong (COSMAS KOPONG BEDA)

JAKARTA - The coach of the Indonesian national team, Shin Tae-Yong, has no plans to naturalize a player who plays as an attacker. The reason is that nothing has caught the attention of the South Korean coach.

The 51-year-old coach is currently trying to naturalize two players, but both play as defenders. The two players in question are Sandy Walsh and Jordi Amat.

"So far, after searching, I haven't been able to find anything that stands out in my eyes," said Shin Tae-Yong at a press conference at the Ministry of Youth and Sports Office on Thursday, February 10.

Since no hereditary attackers had caught his attention yet, Shin focused on speeding up the naturalization of the two defenders. Both players are expected to soon be in uniform for the national team.

The naturalization process for the two players is targeted to be completed in the near future. The goal is that they can help Indonesia at the end of the year in the 2022 AFF Cup.

However, Shin admits that he doesn't want to naturalize his target player. Players submitted to the federation for the naturalization process must meet at least three main requirements.

"First, there must be Indonesian blood mixed, second, there must be a great technique to help Indonesian football, third, he must be responsible for the Indonesian national team," he said.

Shin actually put forward four names for the citizenship process including Jordi and Sandy. Two other players who had entered the coach's radar were Kevin Diks Bakarbessy and Mees Hilgers.

However, Kevin and Mees did not show their seriousness in joining Indonesia. In contrast to Sandy and Jordi who have sent their required documents to the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

So that Sandy and Jordi immediately wore Indonesian uniforms, PSSI also moved quickly to hold a coordination meeting with the Minister of Youth and Sports Zainudin Amali on Thursday, February 10. Through this meeting, the federation asked for the Menpora's assistance to speed up the naturalization process for the two players.