Abdurrahman Iwan

Abdurrahman Iwan
Personal information
Full name Abdurrahman Iwan Kuswanto
Date of birth (2006-08-14) 14 August 2006 (age 18)
Place of birth Doha, Qatar
Position(s) Central defender
Team information
Current team
 Al-Wakrah
Youth career
2012–2015 Al-Wakrah
Aspire Academy
Al-Wakrah
International career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022–2023 Qatar U17

Abdurrahman Iwan Kuswanto (Arabic: وعبدالرحمن أوان; born 14 August 2006) is a Qatari footballer who plays as a central defender for Al-Wakrah.

Early life

Iwan was born in Doha, to Indonesian parents from Kramatwatu in Serang who had moved to Qatar as his father worked for Qatar Petroleum.[1]

Club career

Having started to play football at the age of five, Iwan's father took him for trials with a number of professional clubs, including Al-Wakrah, albeit unsuccessfully due to his non-Qatari citizenship.[1][2] Eventually he began training with Al-Wakrah three days a week, before joining officially in 2012.[1] He joined the Aspire Academy in 2015.[2]

International career

Iwan is eligible to represent both Qatar and Indonesia at international level. In September 2022, he was called up to the Qatar under-17 side for the first time.[3] He was a member of Qatar's squad for the 2023 AFC U-17 Asian Cup, but did not feature as Qatar were eliminated in the group stage.[4][5]

In July 2023, it was reported that the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) had approached Iwan to play for Indonesia internationally, with the player posting on his Facebook account: "Thank God we arrived in our beloved homeland".[6] When asked on social media by fans why he had initially chosen to represent Qatar ahead of Indonesia, he replied that the PSSI had not approached him with regard to representing Indonesia.[7]

Style of play

A forward in his early career, Iwan was a prolific goal-scorer, and earned comparisons to Argentine football legend Diego Maradona for his style of play.[1][8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Dalang, Ki (27 September 2015). "Abdurrahman Iwan Kuswanto, 'Maradona Cilik' dari Bandung yang Besinar di Qatar" [Abdurrahman Iwan Kuswanto, 'Little Maradona' from Bandung who is shining in Qatar]. dakwatuna.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  2. ^ a b Pamungkas, Destriana Indria (13 September 2022). "Profil Biodata dan Agama Abdurrahman Iwan Pemain Keturunan Indonesia yang Bela Timnas Qatar U-17" [Abdurrahman Iwan's Biodata and Religion Profile A player of Indonesian descent who defends the U-17 Qatar National Team]. bola.okezone.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  3. ^ "Pesepak Bola Asal Indonesia, Abdurrahman Iwan, Perkuat Timnas Qatar U-17" [Footballer from Indonesia, Abdurrahman Iwan, strengthens the U-17 Qatar National Team]. kumparan.com (in Indonesian). 12 September 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  4. ^ "الموافقة على القائمة النهائية للناشئين المشاركين في بطولة آسيا تحت 17 سنة في تايلاند" [Approval of the final list of juniors participating in the AFC U-17 Championship in Thailand]. qfa.qa (in Arabic). 13 June 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  5. ^ Riyantama, Rauhanda (5 July 2023). "Sudah Main di Timnas Qatar, Apakah Abdurrahman Iwan Bisa Perkuat Timnas Indonesia U-17?" [Already Playing in the Qatar National Team, Can Abdurrahman Iwan Strengthen the U-17 Indonesian National Team?]. bolatimes.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  6. ^ Samani, Muhamed (4 July 2023). "Pemain Qatar Abdurrahman Iwan Perkuat Timnas Indonesia U-17 di Piala Dunia U-17 2023?" [Qatari player Abdurrahman Iwan Strengthens the U-17 Indonesian National Team at the 2023 U-17 World Cup?]. megapolis.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  7. ^ "Pemain Qatar Abdurrahman Iwan Tiba di Tanah Air, "Mutiara" yang Dicari Timnas Indonesia U-17" [Qatari player Abdurrahman Iwan arrives in Indonesia, the "Pearl" sought by the U-17 Indonesian National Team]. kompasiana.com (in Indonesian). 6 July 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  8. ^ "Abdurrahman Iwan; Talenta Muda Indonesia Yang Bersinar di Luar Negeri" [Abdurrahman Iwan; Indonesian Young Talents Shining Overseas]. nusantaranews.co (in Indonesian). 27 September 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2023.