Jakarta - Youth and Sports Minister Dito Ariotedjo confirmed that he will accelerate the naturalization process for soccer players Emil Audero Mulyadi, Joey Pelupessy, and Dean James after receiving the naturalization application documents from the All Indonesia Football Association (PSSI).
"Currently, we are still waiting (for naturalization application documents) from PSSI and indeed Mr. Erick (PSSI General Chairman) hopes that these (three players) can play in March (2025), so we will communicate with all stakeholders ," said Dito Ariotedjo to the media crew in Jakarta, Monday.
He conveyed his response to the plan to naturalize football players Audero, Pelupessy, and James to strengthen the Indonesian national team in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers in the Asian zone.
Dito said he had conveyed to President Prabowo Subianto to obtain permission regarding the naturalization of the three players.
The naturalization plan, he said, was a new order so the process was being worked on and his party was still waiting for the submission of naturalization documents from PSSI.