Mees Hilgers Debuts for Heerenveen, a Sign of Revival for the Indonesia National Team Defender

Mees Hilgers finally experienced the atmosphere of a competitive match again after 520 days out. The Indonesia national team defender made his debut for Heerenveen in the first round of the KNVB Cup against Excelsior Maassluis at Sportpark Dijkpolder, in the early hours of Thursday (29/10/2026) WIB.

Hilgers came on as a substitute in the second half, in the 76th minute, replacing Sam Kersten. Although he played only 14 minutes, his performance signaled that he is ready to return to competition. Heerenveen won 2-0 thanks to goals from Dylan Vente (63') and Jacob Trenskow (75'), advancing to the second round.

The long wait was not without reason. Before joining Heerenveen on the final day of the summer transfer window, Hilgers had been frozen out of the FC Twente squad for refusing to extend his contract. A planned move to Stade Brest also fell through, while he had to undergo rehabilitation for a cruciate ligament injury. The combination of those factors kept him off the pitch for a long time.

In an interview with ESPN Nederland, Hilgers said the wait felt longer than the number of days suggests. "It has been a very long time since I last played in a competitive match. It feels that way, and maybe even longer," he said. He also said he spent a lot of time on the sofa at home watching football, which gave him room to think.

Nevertheless, Hilgers stressed that he is physically fit. "Physically I am actually fit, and the fact that I was not included in the Twente squad was a very strange experience. Not to mention the injury I suffered. Going through all of that was certainly not pleasant. However, I am very happy to now have a new club," he said.

For Heerenveen, Hilgers's presence adds options at the back. He arrived when the Eredivisie was entering its fourth week and was absent from the squad in the first three matches. However, he was then included in the squad for the next three matches, including against PSV Eindhoven, Excelsior, and ADO Den Haag. In the last two matches, he only sat on the bench.

The brief debut against Excelsior Maassluis is a first step toward regularly earning playing time again. That opportunity is wide open when Heerenveen host NEC Nijmegen in the next Eredivisie fixture this weekend. Hilgers himself has stated he is ready to play every week again.

Hilgers's return is also good news for the Indonesia national team. The 25-year-old has collected four caps and is part of the Garuda squad's long-term project. Consistent playing time at club level will be key to maintaining his performance and fitness ahead of upcoming international fixtures.

The question is whether this debut will be a turning point in Hilgers's career, or merely a warm-up before a bigger challenge. The answer will become clear in the coming weeks, starting with the match against NEC Nijmegen.