Football observer Bung Ropan claims PSSI is approaching Dean Zandbergen and Luke Vickery to bolster Timnas Indonesia's attack for the FIFA Matchday in June 2026. PSSI confirms early approaches to Vickery but states no official naturalization process yet.
Football observer Bung Ropan stated that PSSI is approaching two naturalized strikers, Dean Zandbergen and Luke Vickery, for Timnas Indonesia in the FIFA Matchday June 2026. This follows issues in the attack line of John Herdman's team, which struggles to score against strong opponents.
Dean Zandbergen, 24, plays for VVV Venlo and recently scored a hattrick against SC Cambuur at Stadion De Koel on April 4, 2026. He has Indonesian ancestry from his mother from Depok, Jawa Barat, with his grandmother still living in Indonesia. "He has already stated that he has Indonesian blood, more precisely his mother has blood from Depok, Jawa Barat," said Bung Ropan.
Bung Ropan mentioned initial communication with PSSI staff, and the process could be accelerated for June 2026 if the federation is serious. For Luke Vickery of Macarthur FC, he is confident both will join: "There must be these two, if not Dean Zandbergen, Luke Vickery, these two will enter."
However, PSSI's National Team Committee Chairman Sumardji clarified on April 7, 2026 in Jakarta that approaches to the 20-year-old Vickery, with ancestry from his grandmother, are still at an early stage. "Not yet, everything is still efforts, these approaches, adjusted to the team's needs. No further process yet," Sumardji said. PSSI is monitoring several naturalized players and urges the public not to speculate.
