Maarten Paes Reveals His Grandmother's Final Message Behind His Decision to Represent Indonesia's National Team

Ajax Amsterdam’s first-choice goalkeeper Maarten Paes has finally revealed the emotional reasons behind his decision to play for the Indonesia national team. It turns out the strongest motivation to choose Indonesia was not merely technical considerations, but a deep homage to his late grandmother who had strong historical roots in the homeland. Paes’s decision to turn away from the Netherlands national team and opt for Indonesia marks a new, highly special chapter in his career. Through the club’s official channels, he explained how his grandmother introduced Nusantara culture to him from a young age, until he finally committed to the naturalisation process. Paes’s emotional connection to Indonesia stems from the dark history of the war experienced by his grandmother. “My grandmother was born there,” Paes explained his connection to Indonesia, quoted from Voetbal Primeur, Saturday (7/3/2026). “She endured World War II there. She lost her mother at a very young age. Back then, men and women were separated, so she remained there without her parents for a long time.” The 27-year-old player said that when his grandmother’s health began to fail, he felt it was the right moment to answer the federation’s call. “After the war, I think five years later they came to the Netherlands by ship,” he added. “She actually introduced that culture to me from a young age. When she was nearing death in the final years of her life, I thought that was the right moment when they contacted me again.” “That is when I finally decided to do it,” Paes explained. The two learned about the state’s symbols and fundamentals in preparation to represent the Garuda.