Indonesian Football Passion Reachesโ Religious Fervor, Says National Team Playerโค Calvin โVerdonk
JAKARTA – Calvin Verdonk, a โrecent addition to the Indonesian national team, โฃhas described โขthe โcountry’s passion for football as akin to religion, highlighting the intense โขdedication of fans that extendsโข beyond the stadium. The Dutch-born player’s observations come as Indonesia continues its campaign to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, โฃfueled by recent victories and a growing sense of national pride.
Verdonk, who currently plays for Lille in the French League, shared his experiences witnessing โthe fervor firsthand. He noted stadiums filling hours before kickoffโข and fans congregating outside โฃthe team’s hotel, requiring securityโ measures. This level of devotion, he explained, mirrors the deep faith held by manyโ Indonesians. “Like people who believe in โขgod,there [Indonesia] alsoโข many people who consider football and religion the same,” Verdonk stated.
The 28-year-old former NEC Nijmegen player also praisedโ the advancements in Indonesian football, attributing the progress to theโข arrival of Dutch coaching staff led โby Patrick Kluivert. “Football is also growing now withโค tactics, especiallyโ now with a new coach with Patrick (Kluivert) with staffโข from the Netherlands, yes it is very developed and crazy fans there,” he said. โค
Verdonk believes Indonesia’s recent successes, including victories against Saudi Arabia and Iraq, are building momentum towards World Cup qualification. He emphasized โขthe significance of these wins as crucial steps in achieving their goal. The national team’s performance is captivating the nation, with football increasingly becoming a central part of Indonesian identity โand a source of collective hope.