September 3, 2025 | 06:14 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian national football team is set to gain two reinforcements as Mauro Zijlstra and Miliano Jonathans near the end of their naturalization process. Both players, who currently compete in the Dutch Eredivisie, have received approval from the Indonesian House of Representatives during a plenary session on Tuesday.
Following this approval, their naturalization will move to the State Secretariat to obtain a Presidential Decree (Keppres), the final requirement before taking their citizenship oath.
Once the process is complete, Zijlstra and Jonathans are expected to strengthen the Garuda squad in their upcoming FIFA Match Day fixture against Lebanon on September 8 at Gelora Bung Tomo Stadium, Surabaya.
Lebanon is likely to be Indonesia’s only opponent in the September FIFA window, after Kuwait withdrew from their scheduled September 5 match.
Mauro Zijlstra
Mauro Nils Zijlstra was born on November 9, 2004, in Zaanstad, the Netherlands. The 19-year-old forward has Indonesian heritage through his grandmother, who was born in Bandung.
Zijlstra started his career at AZ Alkmaar’s youth academy before moving to AFC Amsterdam Youth, where he delivered a standout season in 2021/2022, scoring 18 goals and providing 11 assists in 20 matches.
In July 2022, he joined NEC Nijmegen U-21, where he netted 12 goals over two seasons. His consistent performances earned him a move to Volendam U-21 in 2024, where he quickly made an impact with 17 goals and seven assists in 21 matches. His form secured him a promotion to Volendam’s first team, helping the club win promotion to the Eredivisie.
This season, Zijlstra has already featured in Volendam’s Eredivisie opener, a 1-1 draw against Heerenveen.
Miliano Jonathans. Dok. FC Utrecht
Miliano Jonathans
Miliano Jonathans, born on April 5, 2004, in Arnhem, also traces his Indonesian roots through his paternal grandfather, who was born in Depok. The 21-year-old plays as a right winger.
Jonathans began his youth career at Vitesse, joining the U-18 team in 2020. That season, he contributed five goals and six assists before moving up to the U-21 squad, where he stayed until 2023/2024, tallying five goals and one assist across 25 appearances.
He made his first-team debut for Vitesse in the 2021/2022 season but truly broke out in the 2024/2025 campaign, scoring 11 goals and providing four assists in the Dutch second tier. His rise caught the attention of FC Utrecht, who signed him in the winter transfer window.
Jonathans has since made 15 appearances for Utrecht, including five in the current Eredivisie season, joining compatriot Ivar Jenner as another Indonesian-Dutch talent in the squad.
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