REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- PSSI Executive Committee member Arya Sinulingga said Kevin Diks is expected to join the Indonesian national team in March next year. Diks is currently undergoing a naturalization process to be able to become an Indonesian citizen (WNI).

But the process has not been able to run smoothly. Because the Indonesian government was formed only after the election of President Prabowo Subianto.

“As we said, this is still a process, that the government is still like this. But we are optimistic about March,” Arya said when he met at ASIOP Stadium, Jakarta, Wednesday (30/10/2024).

If all goes well, then the FC Copenhagen player will have a chance to play in two qualifying matches for the 2025 World Cup, when Indonesia hosts Australia and Bahrain. Arya is quite realistic about the rest of the team's journey in the 2025 World Cup qualifiers.

In his reckoning, with six games remaining, Indonesia should make the most of four matches as hosts. “Our count is that we have six games left. Four times home twice we're away. And his journey is in Japan as well as Australia. So these four (matches) should get points right. Against Bahrain, against China we hope the points are full,” Arya said.

“And then we have to be full as well because we lost to China. We will lose to China. If we don't want to, we Saudi Arabia should not want to be full as well. Japan yes we should get ya hopefully get points so we can get in the top four. Then we have to maximise in when we host,” he said.

Regarding the naturalization process of other players, in addition to Diks, other diaspora players who are being tried for WNI status are two female players, Noa Leatomu and Estella Loupatty. Arya revealed that the two princess players are also going through the same stages.

“Similar, would be the same as Kevin Dicks. This was at the same time so yesterday it was entered also in Kemenpora (Ministry of Youth and Sports), it has been a process. Let's see how,” Arya said.

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