Kalou: The Arguments For

Listed below are the arguments for Salomon Kalou being granted Dutch citizenship through accelerated naturalisation. If you don’t know what this is all about, go here for the full story.

• He meets all legal conditions for accelerated naturalisation, and has received positive reccomendations from the KNVB and the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport.
• He would improve the Oranje. Wingers are a key part of Van Basten’s game plan but Zenden and Van Der Meyde are injured and Robben is out of form.
• If he isn’t playing for us at the World Cup, he may be playing against us for the Ivory Coast.
• A precedent for granting accelerated naturalisation to outstanding sports stars has been set in badminton, rowing and running.
• Kalou may not be Dutch, but the Oranje is already a melting pot of nationalities (Edgar Davids is Surinamese, George Boateng is Ghanaian and Philip Cocu is French).
• The idea he will use his Dutch passport to secure a move to England, Italy or Spain is pure specualtion.
• If he does go on to play for Chelsea, Real Madrid etc he will improve as a player. This benefits the Oranje.
• Kalou has pledged himslef to the Netherlands by burning his bridges with the Ivory Coast. He’s not too popular there right now.
• Other countries have successfully naturalised footballers. For example Germany have Kevin Kuranyi (Brazilian), Poland have Emmanuel Olisadebe (Nigerian) and Belgium have Luis Oliviera (Brazilian).