Mad Bomber and Speed Demon Joined National Team

by: Himawan Novianto, 1006660882

In Indonesia, sports are very popular. The most popular sport in Indonesia is football.
Indonesian national team or better known as “Tim Garuda” must be proud, because of became
the first Asian team to participate in the FIFA World Cup in 1938. At that time, they still carry
the name of The Dutch East Indies. Although Indonesia has very large of population, it is still
not including for the ranks of the strongest teams in AFC (Asian Football Confederation). But,
now, there is something new in the national team. This year, Indonesia has two new strikers as
result of naturalization process. Indonesian national team is looked more ferocious with the
presence from both of them. They are Christian “El-Loco” Gonzalez and Irfan Bachdim. These
two naturalization strikers: Christian "El-Loco" Gonzalez ‘The Mad Bomber’ and Irfan Bachdim
‘The Speed Demon’ will has officially strengthened Indonesia national team for the first time on
December 1, 2010 in AFF Cup.
Christian Gerard Alvaro Gonzalez, better known as Christian Gonzalez, is a footballer
from Montevideo, Uruguay, which plays as a striker. Now, he is strengthening for Persib
Bandung as a striker in ISL (Indonesia Super League). On November 3, 2010, Gonzalez had
officially become an Indonesian Citizen (WNI). His status is gained after he filled the request
letter to become an Indonesian citizen in 2006. El-Loco ‘The Mad Bomber’ is the nickname of
Gonzalez. He had become the first naturalization player which is owned by Indonesian national
team. The reason why PSSI (Football Association of Indonesia) chooses Gonzalez in the national
team is because he had become a top scorer for four times in the last season in Indonesian
League. Gonzalez will strengthen the national team projections for AFF Cup, December 1, 2010.
Irfan Bachdim is a young man who was born in Amsterdam, Netherlands on August 11,
1988 and now, actually he is 22 years old. His height is 172 cm and weight approximately is 62
kg. He is a Dutch footballer of Indonesian descent. He is a naturalization player who was
conducted by PSSI to strengthen the national team as a striker ‘The Speed Demon’. Irfan is a
player who has above average speed. Now, he is strengthening Persema Malang in ISL. Irfan for
the first time, played at Eredivisie for FC Utrecht on February 17, 2008. Eredivisie is the highest
football league in Netherlands. At that time, he played as starting eleven for FC Utrecht.
Currently, Irfan is the only player of Indonesian descent who had competed in the highest league
in Europe.
 Indonesian national team will carve a new history because throughout the history of
Indonesia national team, our national team will be strengthened by two naturalization players
named Christian Gonzalez and Irfan Bachdim for the first time in AFF Cup, December 1,
2010. Gonzalez is one of the most deadly strikers in the history of Indonesian football
competition. In addition, the national team will also be strengthened by Irfan Bachdim,
Indonesian descent player who was born in Amsterdam, Netherlands.  Naturalization is one of
the efforts to improve the quality of Indonesian national team. A lot of talents out of there who
have the blood of Indonesian descent can join to our national team.