Indonesia is making waves in regional football with its strategy of naturalizing numerous players of Dutch origin. Yesterday, the country officially granted citizenship to three new names: Ole Romeny, Tim Geypens, and Dion Markx. This marks a significant step in elevating the national team and reflects the ambitious aspirations of Indonesian football.
Ole Romeny – A Rising Star on the Attack
Among the new recruits, Ole Romeny stands out as a key player. The 2000-born forward recently joined Oxford United in England’s League One during the January 2025 transfer window. Previously, he played for several prominent Dutch clubs, including NEC, Willem II, Emmen, and Utrecht. According to Transfermarkt, Ole Romeny’s current market value is €1.3 million (approximately $1.4 million).
Erick Thohir, Chairman of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI), stated, “Ole Romeny’s arrival will strengthen and sharpen our national team’s attacking line, leading to positive outcomes in the future.”
Two Young Talents for SEA Games 33
In addition to Ole Romeny, two young players, Tim Geypens and Dion Markx, are expected to contribute significantly to Indonesia’s U22 squad at the 33rd SEA Games, set to take place in Thailand later this year. Both are 19 years old and show immense potential for growth.
Comprehensive “Dutchification” Strategy
According to Indonesian media reports, Indonesia’s national team has now naturalized a total of 20 players. Among them, one is of Spanish origin, Jordi Amat, while the remaining 19 are of Dutch descent. Notable names include Marc Klok, Sandy Walsh, Shayne Pattynama, Rafael Struick, Ivar Jenner, and Mees Hilgers.
Remarkably, Mees Hilgers is currently the most valuable player in Southeast Asia, with a market value of €9 million ($9.8 million). Close behind is Jay Idzes, valued at €3 million ($3.3 million).
To support this group of Dutch-origin players, PSSI replaced head coach Shin Tae-yong with Patrick Kluivert, a former Dutch football star. Furthermore, they plan to hire a Dutch Technical Director to complete the “Dutchification” process of the national team.
Ambition for World Cup 2026
Indonesia’s ultimate goal is to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Currently, the team ranks third in the third round of qualifiers with six points from six matches, trailing only Australia and Japan. With quality reinforcements from naturalized players and long-term strategies, Indonesia hopes to achieve a historic milestone in the near future.
Conclusion
The strategy of naturalizing Dutch-origin players not only highlights Indonesia’s ambition to elevate its football standards but also opens up significant opportunities for the national team to compete fiercely with strong opponents both regionally and globally. Will this “Dutchification” journey lead Indonesia to realize its World Cup dream? Let’s wait and see!
Source: Dân Trí
