REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesian football watcher Kesit Budi Handoyo does not care about the large number of naturalized players in the Indonesian national team today. Moreover, the player has Indonesian blood and is able to share the achievements of the Indonesian national team.

“The fact is, at the moment the national squad is full of naturalized players. Most importantly, the naturalized players really have Indonesian blood. It must also be affirmed that they really want to defend the national team that is the homeland of their ancestors,” Kesit said when asked to respond to the criticism of businessman and former ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Poland Peter Gontha.

Kesit added that for now the naturalization program is needed to improve the performance of the national team in order to compete further in Asian and world competition. However, he also reminded that this naturalization program must have a time limit.

“It is impossible not to specify the time until when. It is important that PSSI also immediately carry out continuous and tiered coaching, including improving the quality of the competition in order to compete at the Asian level,” Kesit said.