PSSI Urges the Public to Be Patient Over Rumours of Two New Naturalised Players for the Indonesian National Team

Arya Sinulingga, a member of the PSSI Executive Committee (Exco), asked the public to await confirmation on reports of two new naturalised players for the Indonesian national team, because the process is still adjusting to the schedule of the DPR’s sessions. News about the potential addition of two naturalised players to strengthen the national team has emerged in recent days. Sinulingga did not deny the issue, but stressed that the public should wait for further developments. According to Arya, the naturalisation process is inseparable from the mechanism involving the DPR. Therefore, PSSI is still awaiting confirmation of the session schedule before moving further. ‘Let’s just wait. Time is tight at the moment. And I haven’t seen the DPR’s opening of the session yet,’ Arya said during a buka puasa gathering and football with PSSI Pers at Lapangan C Senayan, Jakarta, on Friday (6/3). He explained that any process related to DPR approval must follow the current session schedule. PSSI will adjust its next steps to that agenda. ‘The DPR always has opening and closing sessions. We will adapt to the situation later,’ he added. The rumours of two naturalised players emerged after the Indonesia national team coach John Herdman was said to want to bolster the squad with players who ply their trade in Europe. The speculation intensified after Youth and Sports Minister and PSSI Chairman Erick Thohir met Law Minister Andi Agtas a few days earlier. Previously, Herdman was also known to have travelled to Europe to monitor several players with Indonesian heritage. Arya admitted that the targets are likely drawn from that monitoring. ‘Yes, certainly from there (Herdman’s monitoring),’ Arya said. However, he declined to reveal the identities of the two players in question, including their nationalities or the leagues in which they play. Arya only confirmed that the players targeted have the quality the team needs. ‘I don’t know yet. He will look for good ones. In any case, we will just look for good players,’ he concluded.