Indonesia’s World Cup Qualifiers Squad Announcement: Kluivert Names 27 Players
Indonesia’s men’s national football team head coach, Patrick Kluivert, has revealed the 27 players who will represent the country in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Australia and Bahrain. Among the notable names in this provisional list is Septian Bagaskara, a standout player from Dewa United in Liga 1 Indonesia, having scored seven goals and provided one assist this season.
Kluivert, a former star striker for Barcelona and AC Milan, also included Ole Romeny in the Garuda Squad. Romeny, who recently acquired Indonesian citizenship following his transfer to Oxford United in England’s second-tier league, has already made an impact by scoring a goal.
Erick Thohir, the Chairman of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI), expressed his excitement about the roster selected by Kluivert. In a statement released on Sunday, Thohir commended the coach’s choices and assured fans that Kluivert had consulted with his assistants to finalize the list. Thohir emphasized the quality of the players called up, noting that the squad composition is well-balanced with top talents in each position.
Additionally, the PSSI is working on naturalizing three more players to potentially join the team: Dean James (Go Ahead Eagles), Emil Audero (Palermo), and Joel Pelupessy (Lommel SK). These players, once granted Indonesian citizenship, could further strengthen the national team’s lineup.
Here is the complete list of the 27 players selected for the World Cup qualifying round:
Goalkeepers:
1. Maarten Paes (FC Dallas)
2. Nadeo Argawinata (Borneo FC)
3. Ernando Ari (Persebaya)
Defenders:
4. Calvin Verdonk (NEC Nijmegen)
5. Shayne Pattynama (KAS Eupen)
6. Nathan Tjoe-A-On (Swansea City)
7. Pratama Arhan (Bangkok United)
8. Sandy Walsh (Yokohama F. Marinos)
9. Eliano Reinjders (PEC Zwolle)
10. Kevin Diks (FC Copenhagen)
11. Rizky Ridho (Persija)
12. Jay Idzes (Venezia)
13. Justin Hubner (Wolverhampton Wanderers U-21)
14. Mees Hilgers (FC Twente)
15. Muhammad Ferarri (Persija)
16. Jordi Amat (Johor Darul Ta’zim)
Midfielders:
17. Egy Maulana (Dewa United)
18. Marselino Ferdinan (Oxford United)
19. Ricky Kambuaya (Dewa United)
20. Ivar Jenner (Jong FC Utrecht)
21. Thom Haye (Almere City)
Forwards:
22. Ole Romeny (Oxford United)
23. Ramadhan Sananta (Persis)
24. Hokky Caraka (PSS)
25. Rafael Struick (Brisbane Roar)
26. Ragnar Oratmangoen (FCV Dender)
27. Septian Bagaskara (Dewa United)
In related news, Kluivert is also planning a nationwide scouting initiative to identify potential talents for Indonesia’s Olympic team. The coach’s ambitious goal is to lead Indonesia to the 2026 World Cup, a challenge he embraces with determination and passion.
The announcement of the national team squad for the World Cup qualifiers marks a significant step in Indonesia’s football journey, showcasing a blend of experienced players and emerging talents ready to represent their country on the international stage. As the excitement builds and preparations intensify, fans eagerly anticipate the team’s performance in the upcoming matches, cheering on their favorite players with unwavering support and national pride.
