Spasojevic Hopes to Play for National Team after Naturalization

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Bhayangkara FC forward Ilija Spasojevic has been recently naturalized as an Indonesian citizen. The 30-year-old football player expressed his wish to play for the national team in friendly and official matches.

“Of course, my ambition is to play for the Indonesian team,” Spasojevic told journalists in Bekasi on Thursday, October 26. He said he is ready to be called up by national team coach Luis Milla.

Spasojevic actually had served three different countries as a national player. He previously served for the Yugoslavia U-17, Serbia Montenegro U-17 and U-19, and Montenegro U-21 teams.

“When I won the golden boot, the Montenegro Football Association contacted me,” he claimed. 

According to Spasojevic, the FA was planning to call him for the 2018 qualification. However, he admitted that he was waiting for a decision from the Indonesian government related to his naturalization application.

“I have a life here, I love this country [Indonesia], and my future is here,” said.

After being naturalized as an Indonesian citizen, the Bhayangkara forward revealed that he immediately contacted the Montenegro FA about the news. He said that he did not want the FA to find out about the decision from the media.

“They understand that I have lived here for a long time,” Spasojevic said.

ADI WARSONO