Profile of Dion Markx, Talented Young Player Threatened with Failure to Represent the Indonesian U-20 National Team

Kapanlagi.com - The preparation of the Indonesian U-20 national team for the U-20 Asian Cup 2025 is now on the brink. The team faces a serious challenge with the naturalization process of two young stars, Dion Markx and Tim Geypens, which is at risk of failing on time. Unavoidable administrative hurdles are the main obstacle in this endeavor.

"To be honest, for our U-20 team, we are indeed facing quite a heavy situation," said Arya Sinulingga, a member of the PSSI Executive Committee, in an interview with ANTARA on Thursday (12/12). This statement further emphasizes the difficulties faced by PSSI in their efforts to strengthen the squad with the inclusion of both players.

The naturalization process of Dion and Geypens has become a focal point, especially after the AFC moved up the player registration deadline. This means Indonesia must act quickly if they want to see both players in action under the guidance of Indra Sjafri in China later.

Stay here to learn more about the intriguing profile of Dion Markx, Friday (13/12)!

1. Naturalization Hampered by AFC Deadline

Dion Markx and Tim Geypens are expected to strengthen the Indonesian U-20 National Team in the prestigious U-20 Asian Cup which will take place in China from February 12 to March 1, 2025. However, a significant challenge arises after the AFC decided to move the player registration deadline to one month before the tournament, specifically on January 12, 2025.

PSSI now has to rush to ensure the citizenship status of both players before the deadline, but unfortunately, the naturalization administrative process in Indonesia is relatively slow.

With the Indonesian House of Representatives entering recess from December 6, 2024, to January 20, 2025, hopes of completing this process are dwindling. "To be honest, it’s quite difficult to support the Indonesian U-20 National Team. Why? Because the AFC has set the player registration rules for the 2025 U-20 Asian Cup to be one month before the tournament," said Arya at a press conference for Liga Nusantara in Jakarta, reflecting the concerns felt ahead of the tournament.

2. Profile of Dion Markx: Talented Young Star

Dion Markx, a young star born in the Netherlands on June 29, 2005, is shining in the world of football. Standing at 188 cm tall, he plays as a center-back and defensive midfielder, utilizing his impressive stature to dominate physical and aerial duels.

His football career began at the SV Spero academy before he moved to the Vitesse Youth academy in 2014, where he was honed into a competitive player over eight years. Now, Dion is making a name for himself in the NEC Nijmegen U-21 team, with 39 appearances and three goals since joining in 2021.

Moreover, he has also experienced international atmosphere with the Indonesia U-20 National Team at the 2024 Toulon Cup, signaling that his future in football is increasingly bright!

3. Dion Markx at the 2024 Toulon Cup

Dion Markx's performance with the Indonesia U-20 National Team at the 2024 Toulon Cup has captured the attention of many. In this prestigious tournament, Indonesia competed against youth teams from strong countries such as Japan, South Korea, and Italy.

Dion showcased his class by playing the full 90 minutes against Ukraine U-23, demonstrating remarkable resilience as a center-back. Although he only played 54 minutes against Japan U-19, his performance still drew admiration.

Great hopes now resonate in the hearts of the Indonesian public, who see Dion as the ideal successor to Jay Idzes, thanks to his solid defensive qualities and his ability to intelligently utilize his physical stature.

4. Permanent Naturalization Continues

Despite the shining talents of Dion and Geypens, their naturalization process is hampered by the recess schedule of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) which runs from December 2024 to January 2025. This poses a significant challenge in completing the documents, although Dion Markx continues to move forward with his naturalization steps.

"We must submit on January 12, 2025. This is indeed tough because the DPR is on recess until January 20, 2024, so we have to be patient," Arya stated at a press conference for Liga Nusantara at Menara Danareksa, Central Jakarta, Thursday (12/12/2024).

Despite the obstacles, Arya emphasized that the naturalization process for both players is still ongoing, not only to pursue the U-20 Asian Cup 2025 but also for opportunities in the U-23 national team.

5. What Is the Impact on the U-20 National Team?

If Dion and Geypens fail to be naturalized in time, the Indonesian U-20 National Team will lose two key pillars that are relied upon in the defense line. These two players are expected to be a solid barrier when facing tough opponents from Asia.

PSSI must quickly look for alternative local players as a solution, but finding a replacement of Dion's caliber is not an easy task, considering his international experience and outstanding technical skills. Their absence could seriously impact the national team's ambitions in the U-20 Asian Cup 2025, amidst increasingly tight competition, losing these two key players will undoubtedly pose a significant challenge for the young Garuda squad.

6. Why does the naturalization process in Indonesia take a long time?

This process involves a series of complex administrative stages, where one key step is obtaining approval from the parliament, which is bound to a specific schedule, adding dynamics and challenges to each step.

7. Has Dion Markx ever played in international competitions?

Dion is ready to showcase his skills on the international stage by representing the Indonesian U-20 National Team at the 2024 Toulon Cup, where he will face young teams from major countries known for their football.

8. What are the chances of the Indonesian National Team without Dion and Geypens?

The U-20 National Team is now faced with a major challenge to find comparable replacements to maintain their stellar performance in the Asian Cup. With a high fighting spirit, the team must work hard to discover talents that can fill the gaps and bring new hope to the fans.

(kpl/ank)