Four Diaspora Footballers, Including Mauro Zijlstra, Become Indonesian Citizens and Join National Teams
Four diaspora football players officially became Indonesian citizens after taking an oath at the Indonesian Embassy in The Hague, Netherlands. This naturalization process follows a presidential decree and is part of Indonesia’s strategy to strengthen its national football teams by incorporating talented players from abroad. Among these athletes, Mauro Zijlstra, a 20-year-old forward, is expected to immediately contribute to the men's national team in upcoming international matches, including World Cup qualifiers.
Meanwhile, three female players—Isabel Corian Kopp, Pauline Jeannette van de Pol, and Isabelle Nottet—will join the Indonesian women's national team with long-term goals. The women’s team aims to elevate its competitive level in Asia and the world, targeting top rankings and consistent qualifications for major tournaments such as the AFC Women’s Asian Cup and the FIFA Women’s World Cup by 2035.
The Indonesian government has emphasized that the citizenship process strictly follows legal procedures, with approval granted by the House of Representatives. Although five footballers were approved for naturalization, only four have completed the oath-taking ceremony so far. The event was led by the Minister of Law and Human Rights, who highlighted the significance of this step not only as a legal change but as a commitment to advancing Indonesian sports.
Officials expressed hope that these diaspora athletes will bring new skills and achievements to Indonesian football. The naturalization initiative is seen as a meaningful effort to build national pride and improve Indonesia’s presence in international sports, marking a strategic investment in the future of both the men’s and women’s national teams.
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