After losing to Vietnam U23, Indonesia U23 urgently naturalizes 'goal-scoring machine'.

Immediately after losing to Vietnam U23, Indonesia U23 hastily naturalized "goal-scoring machine" Mauro Zijlstra in preparation for the 2025 SEA Games.

The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) has just had its first reaction after losing to Vietnam U23 in the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship final: naturalizing striker Mauro Zijlstra.

Erick Thohir, president of PSSI, along with top Indonesian football officials, understand that the current squad quality is insufficient.

The Indonesian U23 team needs new players, aiming for the U23 Asian Cup qualifiers in September, and especially the SEA Games at the end of the year.

Mauro Zijlstra is acquiring Indonesian citizenship. Photo: FC Volendam

PSSI is currently processing Zijlstra's naturalization application. This process is expected to be completed before September of this year.

This also means that the 20-year-old Dutch striker will be able to play for the Indonesian U23 team in the 2026 U23 Asian Cup qualifiers.

Indonesia U23 will host Group J of the qualifiers, facing opponents South Korea U23, Macau U23, and Laos U23.

The 2026 U23 Asian Cup qualifiers will also be a test for Zijlstra. If he makes a good impression, he will be called up to the Indonesian national team one month later.

In October, Indonesia will face Saudi Arabia and Iraq in the fourth round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in the Asian region. Both matches will take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Mr. Thohir and coach Patrick Kluivert are facing a dilemma in finding a striker to replace Ole Romeny, who recently broke his leg and will be out of action for an extended period.

Romeny played a major role in leading Indonesia to the fourth stage, a Southeast Asian miracle. He scored crucial goals that secured victories against Bahrain and China (both with a 1-0 scoreline).

“Mauro is part of the rebuilding process. Remember, the Indonesian national team only has one striker. Ole has been injured recently,” Erick Thohir stated.

The head of PSSI continued: “Mauro is only 20 years old, he could be given a chance with the Indonesian U23 team. If he plays well, he has a chance to join the national team. Let's wait and see, we shouldn't promise anything yet.”

Zijlstra has just signed his first professional contract with FC Volendam, which will allow him to compete in the Dutch professional league (Eredivisie).

In the 2024/25 season, the 1.88-meter-tall striker scored 17 goals and provided 7 assists in 28 matches in the Dutch youth league system – an average of one goal every 104 minutes.

Earlier this week, in a friendly match where Volendam defeated amateur opponent Beemster 17-0, Zijlstra single-handedly scored 6 goals. This has further fueled Indonesia's eagerness to complete his naturalization process.

Watch the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Football Championship live and in its entirety onFPT Play, visit http://fptplay.vn

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/thua-u23-viet-nam-u23-indonesia-nhap-tich-may-ghi-ban-mauro-zijlstra-2427749.html