Indonesia lacks 'huge' naturalized stars at SEA Games 33, U.23 Vietnam is less worried

According to CNN Indonesia, the possibility of the country's U.23 team keeping the 'super' naturalized striker Mauro Zijlstra to participate in the 33rd SEA Games this coming December is extremely difficult, which will help opponents like U.23 Vietnam or Thailand benefit.

The club did not release Mauro Zijlstra because SEA Games 33 is not included in FIFA Days.

Naturalized striker of Dutch origin, Mauro Zijlstra (21 years old), has played 3 times for the Indonesian national team in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. He continues to be called up by coach Indra Sjafri to the U.23 team preparing for the 33rd SEA Games, with the goal of defending the gold medal in men's football.

U.23 Indonesia lost to U.23 Vietnam in the final match of U.23 Southeast Asia and was eliminated from the 2026 Asian Finals. Most of these players will attend the 33rd SEA Games.

Photo: Dong Nguyen Khang

Mauro Zijlstra, along with Jens Raven, Rafael Struick, Ivar Jenner and Dion Markx, are the most promising naturalized Indonesian players of Dutch origin, and are of age to participate in the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand this coming December.

They, along with outstanding Indonesian players such as Muhammad Ferarri, Kadek Arel, Dony Tri Pamungkas, Arkhan Fikri, Hokky Caraka and Ricky Pratama, will be the pillars of the young team of the archipelago nation in the journey to defend the SEA Games 33 gold medal.

However, the biggest hope and most anticipated player, Mauro Zijlstra, is still uncertain to participate.

Mauro Zijlstra is focusing on the U.23 Indonesia team to play 2 friendly matches to prepare for the 33rd SEA Games against the U.23 Mali team on November 15 and 18. These matches take place during the FIFA Days schedule in November, so the clubs release players for the team.

But in December, when the men's football matches of the 33rd SEA Games officially started (from December 3 to 18), it was not on the schedule. Therefore, whether Mauro Zijlstra will participate in the 33rd SEA Games or not has become a headache for the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) and coach Indra Sjafri.

Mauro Zijlstra said: "In fact, until now I still do not know whether my club, FC Volendam, will allow me to participate in the 33rd SEA Games or not. I have asked them to allow me to return to play for the Indonesian U.23 team. I really want to participate in the SEA Games, because this is a tournament I have never participated in and have not played much for the Indonesian teams. However, I have to wait for a decisive response from the club."

FC Volendam is currently ranked 13th in the Dutch Eredivisie, and is only 4 points away from the relegation zone. Therefore, the possibility of this team letting Mauro Zijlstra return to play for the U.23 Indonesia team in the 33rd SEA Games, which is not on the FIFA Days schedule, is currently open.

The U.23 Indonesia team (red shirt) aims to summon the strongest possible squad to attend the 33rd SEA Games, including naturalized player and prodigy Marselino Ferdinan.

Photo: Dong Nguyen Khang

PSSI President Erick Thohir recently said that the Indonesian football body has been actively negotiating with clubs, such as Mauro Zijlstra, to persuade them to release their players. But so far there have been no concrete results.

Meanwhile, coach Indra Sjafri of U.23 Indonesia admitted that the presence of striker Mauro Zijlstra will significantly increase the team's attacking power. Without this striker, the situation will become more difficult, and everything is currently beyond his control.

What is the schedule for men's football at SEA Games 33?

At the 33rd SEA Games, U.23 Indonesia is in Group C with U.23 Myanmar, Philippines and Singapore. According to the latest schedule, the U.23 Indonesia team will play group stage matches in Chiang Mai City. Including the opening match against U.23 Singapore on December 5, against U.23 Philippines on December 8 and against U.23 Myanmar on December 12, all at the 700th Anniversary Stadium.

Meanwhile, in Group A, the host team U.23 Thailand, along with Cambodia and Timor Leste, will play at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok. U.23 Thailand will play U.23 Timor Leste on December 3, and U.23 Cambodia on December 11. Interspersed is the match between U.23 Cambodia and U.23 Timor Leste on December 6.

The U.23 Vietnam team is in Group B with the U.23 Malaysia team and the Laos team. The latest schedule shows that the U.23 Vietnam team will play all group stage matches at Tinsulanon Stadium in Songkhla Province, including the opening match against U.23 Laos at 6:30 p.m. on December 4, and the match against U.23 Malaysia at the same time on December 11. Interspersed is the match between U.23 Malaysia and U.23 Laos also at the same time on December 7.

The 33rd SEA Games men's football competition will take place from December 3 to 18. In the group stage, teams will compete in a round-robin format, with the top three teams in each group and the second-placed team with the best record advancing to the semi-finals (playing on December 15). Then, there will be matches for the gold and bronze medals (both on December 18), both taking place at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/indonesia-vang-sao-nhap-tich-khung-o-sea-games-33-u23-viet-nam-bot-au-lo-185251113103011534.htm