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.

Kesit admitted that currently local Indonesian players have not been able to compete at the Asian level. “For now, local players from domestic competitions are still difficult to compete. In terms of quality they can not yet be expected.”

“In essence, naturalization is not something illegal in football. The important thing is to know when it is done by a country. Do not let the naturalization project kill the potential and aspirations of local Indonesian players playing in the national team,” Kesit said.

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