Rafael Struick: Revealing Differences Dutch and Indonesian Life Foreign Media

Rafael Struick: Revealing Differences Dutch and Indonesian Life Foreign Media

Rafael Struick Reveals the Differences in Life in the Netherlands and Indonesia to Foreign Media

Rafael Struick admitted that he had two different worlds after deciding to become an Indonesian citizen. He felt like a superstar when he defended the Indonesian national team. 

Indonesian National Team footballer Rafael William Struick (left) fights for the ball with Iraqi National Team footballer Osamah Jabbar Rashid in the 2026 World Cup Qualification Group F match in the Asia zone, at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium (SUGBK), Senayan, Jakarta, Thursday ( 6/6/2024). BETWEEN PHOTOS/Galih Pradipta/aww. 

- Indonesian National Team striker, Rafael Struick, shares his experiences of living in two different countries. Incidentally, both countries are 'football crazy'. 

Yes, the player who is currently playing for the Eerste Division club or the second caste of the Dutch League, ADO Den Haag, compares life in Indonesia and his country of birth, the Netherlands. 

Struick was born in Leidschendam, 21 years ago. He has Indonesian blood from his grandmother who came from Semarang, Central Java. 

Rafael Struick, who is now solidly strengthening the Indonesian national team, shares his experiences of living in two countries. 

In an interview with Amsterdam media, Life After Football, he called it a positive experience. 

Indonesian national team striker Rafael Struick "It feels positive for me to live between these two worlds. In the Netherlands, I had to work hard to get a place," said Struick. 

"It's the same in Indonesia, but my life is more relaxed there. When I play in Indonesia, it feels like I'm a superstar." His popularity in Indonesia is reflected in the number of followers which has reached 3.8 million on Instagram. 

Currently, Rafael Struick is defending the Indonesian national team, which is still struggling to secure a ticket to the third round of the 2026 World Cup Qualifications in the Asian zone. 

Struick appeared for 75 minutes when the Indonesian National Team lost 0-2 to Iraq on the fifth matchday of Group F at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium (SUGBK), Senayan, Jakarta, Thursday (6/6/2024). 

Now, he and the Garuda squad are preparing to face the final matchday of Group F against the Philippines, which will be a life and death match for the Red and White team. 

In simple terms, the Indonesian National Team must win over the Philippines in the match which will take place at SUGBK on Tuesday (11/6/2024). 

Victory will make the Indonesian National Team finish as runners-up in Group F by collecting 10 points. This number is no longer possible for Vietnam to catch up, which until the fifth matchday had only collected six points. 

Contributor : Imadudin Robani Adam