Argumentation ESSAY

Naturalizing Football Player is colonization

Indonesian National Team usually possesses eleven starters and eleven reserve players.  They are the elected Indonesian football players coming from various regions of Indonesia. But in 2010 for the first time, Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) called the youths living abroad, have been being Indonesian decline also having an extraordinary talent in playing football to provide the Indonesian National team. The government gives special treatment by naturalizing and encouraging double passport for them. In present, Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) carries out the same action in Junior National team. Whereas, calling the decline players do not solve the exactly problem in national team even it may cause new problems such as filling in a chance for the truth Indonesian, it will not solve the exactly problem in national team and lowering the prestige of the Nation.

The first problem of naturalization is to fill in a chance for the truth Indonesian players. After PSSI decided to naturalize some players, it may become bad news for some local player because their chance is going to be narrower. For example, the recent occurrence in Junior National team, The Manager called more than four decline players from several countries to join the selection. Almost of them are allowed being to the main team. Of course, they are able to obtain more opportunities to slip out the selection because they possess more experience. As we know the atmosphere and the founding totally differ between Indonesia and the others especially in Europe. In my opinion we can’t found the newcomers without giving land to develop or adding their experience. Because of that, naturalizing the decline players will tighten the chance for the truth Indonesian player to sharpen their ability.

The second problem of naturalization is, it will not guarantee the improvement in national team. Based on the fact, the naturalization players didn’t assist significantly to the National team by the proof our National team is still getting defeat and defeat even though the National team had showed an amazing performance in AFC Championship didn’t mean because of Irfan Bachdim or Gonzales who had naturalized by the government but because of the team work. Whereas, the government had spent time and money to take care their naturalization. Why the money isn’t exploited to give more founding for young players, to improve the facilities and to synchronizing between the official, management and team. Naturalizing the decline players will not absolutely be able to improve the National team because the main problem isn’t in the squad but in the founding process.

The third problem of naturalization is, it will lower the prestige of the Nation. Naturalizing the decline player may indicate that we have no enough confidence with the team. And the management underestimated our talented young players living from Sabang to Merauke. It indicates the management fall down their prestige by forgetting their responsibility to found player in front of their face not to urge the players coming from very far place. Furthermore the other team or countries will insult us when we got the win. Take for example, when National team of Philippines defeated Thailand in preliminary round many newspapers said that it was proper because for about 70% of the team are naturalization players. Although naturalization has begun being a common action, in my opinion naturalization exactly prove the lack of ability of government in founding the players.

The naturalized players perhaps give some assists for the national team but it is not significantly effective to improve the National team condition. Many facts showed that naturalization have some lacks such as tightening the opportunity of youth native (Indonesian) players to develop their ability, not the best way to solve main problem in our National team and showing the lack of ability of the government in shaping a dreamed team. There are the others way to overcome the problems in national team without naturalization. It possible cause the new problems and it would be better when the government focuses in founding the players, improving the League System, facilities and individual skill each player by giving more opportunities to sharpen their skill.