U23 Indonesia is about to have more naturalized players, determined to defeat U23 Vietnam

(Dan Tri) - President of the Indonesian Football Federation (PSSI) Erick Thohir has completed the naturalization procedures for 3 foreign-born players. Notably, two of these 3 players are in the age group to participate in the 33rd SEA Games.

Previously, Mr. Erick Thohir himself said that he would limit the naturalization of players. Indonesian football will learn from the model of Vietnamese football, focusing on training young players, to develop from the foundation.

This statement was made by the head of PSSI after the defeat of the Indonesian U23 team against the Vietnamese U23 team in the final match of the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 tournament, which took place on July 29.

Dutch-born player Mauro Zijlstra is about to be naturalized as an Indonesian player (Photo: FC Volendam).

However, just a few days after this statement, Indonesian media reported that PSSI is processing naturalization procedures for three players, Mauro Zijlstra, Jairo Riedewald and Miliano Jonathans. CNN Indonesia reported that the files for the three naturalized players are being submitted to the Indonesian Ministry of Youth and Sports .

CNN Indonesia wrote: “The plenary session of the Indonesian House of Representatives will take place after August 15, which will give about two weeks to complete the naturalization procedures for foreign-born players, before the FIFA competition schedule resumes between September 1 and September 9.”

Among the three players currently undergoing naturalization procedures by PSSI, two are of age to participate in the 33rd SEA Games in 2025. The first is Mauro Zijlstra, who is 21 years old this year, born in the Netherlands, and is 1m88 tall. This player's forte is striker, and he currently plays for FC Volendam (Netherlands).

U23 Indonesia lost to U23 Vietnam in the final match of the U23 Southeast Asian tournament on July 29 (Photo: VFF).

The other player is Miliano Jonathans, 21 years old, born in the Netherlands, 1m78 tall. His preferred playing position is attacking midfielder. He is currently playing for FC Utrecht (Netherlands).

That means if Mauro Zijlstra and Miliano Jonathans are successfully naturalized, they will be eligible to play for the Indonesia U23 team, participating in the Southeast Asian Games, taking place in December this year.

Indonesia U23 is full of desire to get revenge on Vietnam U23. In addition to Mauro Zijlstra and Miliano Jonathans, Indonesian football has 4 other naturalized players of age who can participate in the 33rd SEA Games. They include center back Justin Hubner, center midfielder Ivar Jenner, center forward Rafael Struick and Jens Raven.

Among them, Justin Hubner, Ivar Jenner and Rafael Struick will not participate in the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 tournament.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-thao/u23-indonesia-sap-co-them-cau-thu-nhap-tich-quyet-thang-u23-viet-nam-20250806110507712.htm