Patrick Kluivert Calls Up 27 Temporary Players, Nine From Indonesian League 1

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The coach of the Indonesian national team, Patrick Kluivert, announced 27 names in the provisional "Garuda" squad to face Australia and Bahrain on March 20 and 25, 2025. Septian Bagaskara, a striker from Dewa United, is the only new name brought in by Kluivert from the 2024-2025 BRI Liga 1.

In addition to Septian, Kluivert also immediately included Oxford United striker Ole Romeny, who had completed the naturalization process and the federation transfer from the Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB) to the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) last February. Armed with seven goals and one assist in this season's Liga 1, Septian will strive to secure a spot among the 23 names eligible to be listed in the lineup for the 2026 World Cup qualification match.

Septian will compete with Ole and four forwards who have been regulars in the Indonesian national team during the Shin Tae-yong era, such as Rafael Struick, Ragnar Oratmangoen, Ramadhan Sananta, and Hokky Caraka. With the single-striker scheme favored by Kluivert, these six strikers will vie for a maximum of three spots on the final squad list.

In total, Kluivert called up nine players from the domestic competition, Liga 1. Ernando Ari and Nadeo Argawinata were selected as goalkeepers. Then, the Persija Jakarta duo, Rizky Ridho and Muhammad Ferrari, continued to earn the trust of the Dutch tactician.

Dewa, the team currently ranked second in the Liga 1 standings, contributed the most players with three individuals. They are Septian, Egy Maulana Vikri, and Ricky Kambuaya. Similar to Shin, Kluivert also did not call up any players from the Liga 1 table-topping team, Persib Bandung.

On the other hand, Kluivert included two forwards from two teams currently fighting to avoid the threat of relegation. Ramadhan represents Persis, while Hokky comes from PSS Sleman.

All players from Liga 1 will join the training camp in Jakarta starting Saturday (15/3/2025). Liga 1 will enter an international break and Eid al-Fitr holiday beginning Thursday (13/3/2025).

PSSI Chairman Erick Thohir is pleased with the provisional list of players chosen by Kluivert and his staff, Alex Pastoor and Danny Landzaat. He hopes the Garuda squad can show positive results in the two decisive games.

"I think the composition of the players is even. The players who were called are the best players in their positions," said Erick in an official statement, Sunday (9/3/2025).

Meanwhile, Dewa Coach Jan Old Riekerink welcomed Kluivert's decision to call up three of his players. "They deserve to be called up to the national team because of their performance this season," said Riekerink, who is from the Netherlands.

Meanwhile, Kluivert only called up two locally-trained players who have careers abroad, namely Marselino Ferdinan (Oxford United) and Pratama Arhan (True Bangkok United). Asnawi Mangkualam, the right wing-back of Port FC in the Thai League, was left out.

The PSM Makassar graduate was pushed aside by three other names in the right wing-back position, namely Kevin Diks, Eliank Reijnders, and Sandy Walsh. Left-handed winger, Saddil Ramdani, who plays in the Malaysian League with Sabah FC has also not attracted Kluivert's interest.

In fact, Saddil has contributed seven goals and two assists in the domestic competition of "Negeri Jiran" this season. He is one of the best import players in the Malaysian League.

Another versatile player in League 1, Yakob Sayuri, was also not included in Kluivert's first squad. In League 1 this season, Yakob has provided six goals and four assists for Malut United, making him the second-highest local player in goal contribution after Egy.

Overseas players who rarely get playing time at their clubs, such as Rafael (Brisbane Roar), Nathan Tjoe-A-On (Swansea), and Shayne Pattynama (KAS Eupen), still adorn the Garuda squad list.

Despite a number of players who have not performed well with the club, Kluivert still relies on the main players from the Shin era.

They include Maarten Paes (FC Dallas), Jay Idzes (Venezia), Jordi Amat (Johor Darul Ta’zim), Justin Hubner (Wolverhampton Wanderers U-21), Calvin Verdonk (NEC Nijmegen), Thom Haye (Almere City), and Ivar Jenner (Jong Utrecht). One name who was absent from the two games in November 2024, Mees Hilger (FC Twente), will return to strengthen the Garuda squad after recovering from a groin injury.

Erick confirmed that Kluivert will also include three players who are undergoing the naturalization process, namely Emil Audero Mulyadi (Palermo), Dean James (Go Ahead Eagles), and Joey Pelupessy (Lommel SK).

PSSI has scheduled the process of taking the oath of Indonesian citizens until the administrative process is completed on March 17. PSSI has a deadline of up to seven days before the match day against Australia if the three want to be included in Sydney, Australia.

"We are still waiting for three players who are in the process of becoming Indonesian citizens," said Erick.

If the three players can be included in the squad against Australia, then seven players will be eliminated from the list of players in the match. Because, FIFA only allows each team to include 23 players in the list of players per match.