National Team Calling! Patrick Kluivert Calls 2 Persib Players to Face Kuwait

On August 20, 2025, Indonesia National Team head coach Patrick Kluivert made his first call-up during his coaching tenure by including Marc Klok and Beckham Putra Nugraha in the senior squad. Both were prepared for friendly matches against Kuwait and Lebanon, as part of the plan to form a competitive and modern team.

Who are Marc Klok & Beckham Putra?

Marc Anthony Klok, born on April 20, 1993 in Amsterdam, Netherlands, is an experienced central midfielder who currently plays for Persib Bandung in Liga 1. Klok is not an unfamiliar name to Indonesian football fans. After a career in Europe with clubs in the Netherlands, Scotland, and England, he then moved to Asia with Ceres–Negros in the Philippines, then to PSM Makassar, Persija Jakarta, and finally Persib.

Officially becoming an Indonesian citizen in 2020, Klok is known as one of the most consistent midfielders in the domestic competition. In the National Team, he is often trusted as the engine of the midfield thanks to his game vision, tempo control, and accuracy in set pieces. More than just a player, Klok is also often referred to as a “cultural bridge” between local and naturalized players, helping to maintain the cohesion of the multicultural Garuda squad. Meanwhile, Beckham Putra Nugraha was born on October 29, 2001 in Bandung, West Java. He is a product of the Persib Bandung academy, as well as the younger brother of Gian Zola, a former U-23 National Team player. Playing as an attacking midfielder or winger, Beckham is known for his fast dribbling, creativity, and passing accuracy.

His name became known to the public when he played for the U-19 and U-23 National Teams, and now has a golden opportunity after being called up by Kluivert to strengthen the senior National Team. This call-up is a testament to Beckham’s consistency at the club level, as well as an important step in his career journey. It is no wonder that he is often dubbed the “Bandung wonderkid” thanks to his outstanding young talent in Liga 1. The presence of Marc Klok and Beckham Putra under the direction of Patrick Kluivert is believed to be able to provide balance for the Indonesian National Team. Klok brings experience and leadership in the midfield, while Beckham adds attacking variation through creativity and youthful spirit. This combination is expected to be a strong foundation for Garuda in facing international trials as well as the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.What Reasons Led Patrick Kluivert to Call Up 2 Persib Players?

Indonesia National Team coach Patrick Kluivert did not make arbitrary choices when he decided to include Marc Klok in the squad list for the trial matches against Kuwait and Lebanon. The Persib Bandung midfielder has long been known as one of the central figures in Liga 1. Since officially becoming an Indonesian citizen in 2020, Klok has shown his role not only as a game rhythm regulator, but also as a figure who can maintain team balance on the field. Kluivert saw this advantage as an important asset to lead the young players who now heavily populate the Garuda squad (Sport Detik). Unlike Klok, who is rich in experience, Beckham Putra Nugraha brings a fresh breath to the National Team. The 23-year-old player is one of the best products of the Persib Bandung academy. His creativity, agility, and courage in one-on-one duels convinced Kluivert that he could be a game-changer. Beckham’s call-up to the senior team also signals that the Dutch coach is brave enough to give opportunities to the new generation to appear at the international level. He is not only projected to add attacking variation, but also to build the long-term future of the Garuda squad (TVOne News).

Marc Klok’s long and experienced career combined with Beckham Putra’s youthful spirit clearly illustrates Patrick Kluivert’s philosophy. He wants to bring a balance between mature senior players and potential young talents, as the foundation of the Indonesian National Team towards the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Patrick Kluivert’s Philosophy Lies in Two Persib Players

Since officially being appointed as the coach of the Indonesian National Team on January 8, 2025, Patrick Kluivert immediately introduced fresh ideas. He came with a philosophy of attacking, creative play, and emphasizing ball possession—a typical Dutch Total Football heritage. The 4-3-3 formation is his primary choice, characterized by fast movements, neat passing flow, and freedom for players to exchange positions. Nevertheless, Kluivert is not a rigid coach. He is flexible and ready to adjust the strategy according to conditions on the field.

This approach, which he calls the “Oranje way,” was born from the belief that a combination of local and diaspora players, especially those who grew up in Dutch academies, can create tactical harmony faster. To achieve this, he also brought a Dutch support team—ranging from Alex Pastoor, Denny Landzaat, to Jordi Cruyff who was entrusted as a technical advisor. For Kluivert, this is not just a strategy, but a real step to bring the National Team towards a stronger era of modernization and professionalism. More than tactics, Kluivert emphasizes that Garuda must play with spirit, courage, and a winning mentality. He wants the team to play proactively, confidently, and dare to take the initiative to win. According to him, football is not just about playing patterns, but also about igniting motivation and belief within each player.

Kluivert’s decision to call up Marc Klok and Beckham Putra Nugraha from Persib Bandung is also in line with this philosophy. Klok brings stability and leadership in the midfield, while Beckham offers speed, creativity, and youthful spirit. The friendly matches against Kuwait and Lebanon will be the first stage for the coach to test the combination of the two within the framework of modern Dutch-style football. The public is now waiting to see how Kluivert’s concoction can make Garuda play more bravely, attractively, and confidently under his control.

Experts’ Perspectives on the Call-Up of Two PERSIB Players

Below is a collection of comments from football observers and coaches regarding the call-up of Marc Klok and Beckham Putra to the Indonesian National Team by Patrick Kluivert.

Response from Persib Bandung Coach, Bojan Hodak

• Bojan Hodak was also happy about Beckham’s call-up, encouraging the player to perform optimally. “This is a valuable moment for Beckham. I told him to show his best abilities when playing for the national team,” he said. Hodak believes that Beckham’s development in the last few seasons deserves appreciation. (Bola, 20/08)

Commentators & Coaches’ Comments on Beckham Putra’s Call-Up

• Ronny Pangemanan, a national football observer, fully supports Beckham Putra‘s call-up. He said that this opportunity is deserved because Beckham showed impressive performance with Persib. “In Persib, he had a strong season—six goals and three assists—so this opportunity is indeed appropriate,” he said, emphasizing that this is an important moment for Beckham to repay Kluivert’s trust. (Merdeka, 20/08)

Enthusiasm of the Two Persib Players

Beckham Putra made his debut in the Indonesian National Team with deep gratitude. The sudden call-up from Patrick Kluivert was a valuable experience and a turning point in his career. Although initially surprised, Beckham welcomed the opportunity with high spirits. For him, the opportunity to defend the Garuda squad at the senior level is not only an honor, but also an explosive motivation to continue to develop and prove himself on the international stage.

Meanwhile, Marc Klok welcomed the new era with Kluivert with full optimism. As a senior player, Klok sees himself having an important role to maintain team balance—bringing stability from his experience while adapting to Kluivert’s modern tactical vision. He hopes that his presence can be a bridge between young and senior players, and strengthen chemistry within the Garuda squad. As a senior midfielder, Marc Klok is predicted to be one of the key players in the midfield when facing Kuwait. With his international experience and his ability to control the game tempo, Klok can be an important link between the defense and attack lines. His presence provides the advantage of stability, rhythm control, and accurate ball distribution and set-piece execution that can be a main weapon against Kuwait’s tight defense. If played from the start, Klok has the potential to be the brains of Garuda’s attack as well as a leader on the field who guides young players.