Prabowo backs naturalization program to strengthen national team

Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto has expressed full support for the ongoing naturalization of diaspora players aimed at strengthening Indonesia’s national football team, Youth and Sports Minister Erick Thohir said.

“Earlier, the President said, ‘As head of state, I will do everything we can to support football,’” Erick told reporters after a meeting with President Prabowo and national team head coach John Herdman at the Garuda Yaksa Padepokan in Hambalang, Bogor, West Java, on Friday.

Erick made the remarks in response to questions regarding the naturalization process of footballers Mitchell Lee Baker and Luke Anthony Vickery.

Both players have secured approval from Commission X and Commission XIII of the House of Representatives (DPR RI).

According to Erick, the naturalization documents for Baker and Vickery are currently awaiting a formal letter from the DPR leadership before proceeding to the next stage.

The process will continue with approval during a DPR plenary session, after which the proposal will be submitted to the President for the issuance of a presidential decree. The final stage will be the players’ oath-taking as Indonesian citizens.

“I am waiting for the House of Representatives. Once it is approved in a plenary session, it will be submitted to the President,” Erick said.

He reiterated that President Prabowo remains committed to supporting strategic measures that can accelerate the development of Indonesian football, including the recruitment of players needed by the coaching staff.

However, Erick emphasized that the naturalization program is not a random recruitment effort but a structured policy that prioritizes players of Indonesian descent.

“Naturalization remains part of our program, particularly for players with Indonesian heritage,” he said, adding that the selected players have demonstrated a strong commitment to representing Indonesia.

The minister also stressed that the recruitment of diaspora talent will not come at the expense of domestic player development. Under the leadership of coach John Herdman, the coaching staff continues to monitor regional youth competitions to maintain a sustainable pipeline of local talent.

“The balance between preparing the senior national team and developing youth squads must be maintained. We see many promising local players continuing to develop, and they are being closely monitored by the coaching staff,” Erick said.

According to ANTARA data, the recruitment of mixed-heritage diaspora players has accelerated during Erick Thohir’s tenure as chairman of the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI), with at least 19 naturalized players already integrated into the national team.

That number is expected to increase as the government completes the processing of pending citizenship applications.

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Translator: Fathur Rochman, Yashinta Difa

Editor: Primayanti

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