SEAToday.com, Jakarta - PSSI Chairman Erick Thohir expressed his deep appreciation for the efforts of all parties, including President Joko Widodo, the House of Representatives (DPR), the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, and the Ministry of Home Affairs, which enabled the Indonesian citizenship oath ceremony for two footballers, Mees Hilgers and Eliano Reijnders, to take place today, Monday (September 30), in Brussels, Belgium.

According to Erick, the expedited process of obtaining Indonesian citizenship for Mees and Eliano abroad was not extraordinary but rather a matter of flexibility, considering the time constraints and the needs of the Indonesian National Team ahead of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers in the Asian zone.

"I want to thank everyone, from President Jokowi, the DPR's Commission III and X, the Director General of Legal Administration (AHU), the Director General of Immigration, and the Jakarta Civil Registry Office, for making it possible for these two naturalized players, Mees and Eliano, to take their oath of citizenship quickly. Why was it done in Brussels? Because both players had no time to come to Indonesia for the oath, and we hope they can play when the national team faces Bahrain and China next October. This was a collaboration between all parties, and I am proud that everyone worked for Indonesia," said Erick Thohir in Jakarta, Monday (September 30).

Before the citizenship oath of Mees and Eliano was taken in Brussels, Belgium, PSSI acted swiftly within a week. Starting with discussions in the DPR's Commission III and VI, which approved the proposal on Thursday (September 26), a meeting between the PSSI Chairman and Minister of Law and Human Rights, Supratman Andi Agtas, was held on the same day to discuss the process for the oath to be taken abroad. This culminated in the issuance of a Presidential Decree, allowing Mees and Eliano to take their oath as Indonesian citizens.

The oath ceremony was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, including the Director General of Legal Administration, Cahyo Rahadian Muzhar, and was witnessed by the Indonesian Ambassador to Belgium and the European Union, Andri Hadi, along with PSSI Executive Committee member Arya Sinulingga.

"I hope the full support provided by all parties will further strengthen the national team in two crucial away matches against Bahrain and China. I am optimistic that Coach Shin will have a new strategy and game plan with the presence of these two players, who are key players for their respective clubs," Erick added. The Indonesian National Team is scheduled to play against Bahrain on Thursday, October 10, and China on October 15, 2024.

Eliano Reijnders currently plays as a midfielder for Dutch Eredivisie club PEC Zwolle. He is the younger brother of AC Milan and Dutch National Team midfielder Tijjani Reijnders. The 23-year-old has Indonesian roots through his mother, Angelina Syane Lekatompessy, who is of Ambonese descent and was born in Jakarta.

Meanwhile, Mees Hilgers, also 23, has Indonesian heritage through his mother, Linda Tombeng, who hails from North Sulawesi. Mees is a key defender for FC Twente, which recently held English Premier League giants Manchester United to a 1-1 draw in the Europa League last week.

Writer: Fariz Ahmad Luthfi