Indonesia coach confirms Dean Zandbergen is ineligible for national team

Indonesia national team coach John Herdman confirmed that Dinamo attacker Dean Zandbergen is ineligible for selection. The coach stated that the player's ancestral link does not meet the necessary requirements set by FIFA.

Herdman explained that Zandbergen’s Indonesian descent comes from a great-grandfather. This specific family connection prevents the forward from representing the national side under current international regulations.

The announcement serves as a setback for the Indonesia squad, which currently holds the 116th place in the FIFA ranking. The team had been looking to strengthen its attacking options with players of dual heritage.

Zandbergen joined Dinamo from VVV-Venlo in early September. The Romanian club paid a transfer fee of 500,000 euros to secure the services of the attacker.

Since his arrival, Zandbergen has featured in five matches for Dinamo. He started in four of those games, establishing himself quickly in the starting lineup.

The attacker has already made an impact on the pitch. He scored a goal during a match against Csikszereda, which ended in a 3-1 result.

Zandbergen also contributed to a significant win for his club. He provided an assist in Dinamo's 4-0 victory over Farul, demonstrating his ability to create chances for teammates.