RI eyes Dutch duo for September fixtures as naturalization progresses

 PSSI Chairman Erick Thohir hopes Mauro Zijlstra and Miliano Jonathans can take their oath of Indonesian citizenship this week, enabling them to join the national team for September's FIFA Match Day.

Speaking in Jakarta on Wednesday, Erick said Speaker of the House of Representatives Puan Maharani had sent naturalization recommendation letters for both players to the State Secretariat to secure a Presidential Decree—required before the oath can be administered.

“Hopefully, the process continues in the next day or two,” he said.

Erick, who also serves as Minister of State-Owned Enterprises, emphasized the urgency, noting that both Dutch Eredivisie players could strengthen the Garuda squad in September’s FIFA Match Day fixtures against Taiwan (Sept. 5) and Lebanon (Sept. 8) at Gelora Bung Tomo Stadium, Surabaya.

Zijlstra had initially been slated for the U-23 team in the AFC U-23 Championship Qualifiers on September 3–9 in the Gelora Delta Stadium, Sidoarjo.

However, his citizenship process missed the registration deadline, making him ineligible for Gerald Vanenburg’s squad.

Instead, Zijlstra will be trialed for the senior national team, which, according to Erick, registers new players just two to three days before each match.

His opportunity is further supported by the need to replace injured striker Ole Romeny.

“That’s why Mauro will get a chance with the senior team—he’s a striker, and we really need one,” Erick said.