Jakarta, IO – The naturalization process for the Indonesian U-20 national team (Timnas) is almost complete after President Joko Widodo has signed the decree. It will now be discussed in the House (DPR) on Tuesday (21/3), according to the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) Deputy Chairman Zainudin Amali, reported Detik (16/3).
The naturalization is deemed crucial to boost the performance of Timnas at the U-20 World Cup. The would-be naturalized players are Ivar Jarner, Justin Hubner and Rafael Struick.
Ivar Jenner was born in Utrecht, the Netherlands, on January 10, 2004. His father is an Indonesian. His grandmother hails from Jember, East Java. The 1.86m-tall midfielder is the 2016 graduate of the Ajax Amsterdam Academy. He moved back to his hometown and joined FC Utrecht when he was 12 years old.
Justin Quincy Hubner also has an Indonesian heritage from his father, a Dutch whose ancestors include Jakartan, Makasarese and Bandunger. Justin was born in Den Bosch, the Netherlands, on September 14, 2003. The left-footed centre-back is under the auspices of Premium Stars Sports management. He signed a one-year contract with Wolverhampton Wanderers U21 on January 1, 2022 which was extended until June 2025.
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Meanwhile, Rafael Struijk is a 19-year-old Dutch-Indonesian player who plays for the Dutch ADO Den Haaag FC. He was trained at the Forum Sport Academy, then joined RKAVV Leidschendam in 2020. Now he is a senior player in the Dutch League 2 team. (rr)