Kluivert Names 27 Players for Indonesia's World Cup Qualifiers

TheIndonesia.id - Indonesia's men's national football team head coach, Patrick Kluivert, has announced a provisional squad of 27 players for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Australia and Bahrain this month.

According to Antara News Agency, among those selected, Dutch-born Kluivert has included Septian Bagaskara, who has been in strong form for Dewa United in Liga 1 Indonesia, with seven goals and one assist this season. Additionally, Ole Romeny, a recent addition to Indonesia’s national team after acquiring citizenship, has also been called up. Romeny, who plays for Oxford United in England's second-tier league, has scored one goal since his transfer.

Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) Chairman, Erick Thohir, expressed his satisfaction with the provisional squad.

"I am delighted with the list of players selected by Coach Kluivert. This is his first squad as head coach of the national team," Thohir said in a statement issued on Sunday. He reassured fans that Kluivert had thoroughly consulted with his assistants before finalizing the list.

Thohir also noted that the selected players fully deserve their spots. "I believe the squad is well-balanced, with the best players in every sector," he added. The PSSI is also in the process of securing Indonesian citizenship for three additional players—Dean James (Go Ahead Eagles), Emil Audero (Palermo), and Joel Pelupessy (Lommel SK)—who will be called up in due course.

The following are the 27 players called up 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)