“Would you rather be the person talking, or the person doing all the things that people talk about?”
With an Instagram following of 1.8 million, Ole Romeny is the talk of the town. But, in the words of one of his favourite artists, Dave, he much prefers to let others do the talking for him.
It was a Tuesday afternoon, a slight chill in the air. Arriving at the set, the graffiti-laden streets and artisan coffee shops provided the perfect backdrop for a baller whose stylistic preference is “a mix of streetwear.” He rocked up runway-ready, decked out in his signature aesthetic.
Ever since he touched down in England in January, moving to Oxford United from FC Utrecht, the 24-year-old has made serious waves. In the land of degrees rocking heat you can’t teach, he’s taking everyone to school with his run on the ‘gram.
But as he joined us for an exclusive cover shoot to discuss his many ‘Firsts’, it was clear his fits were an extension of his personality. A chill guy by nature, his excitement and curiosity when greeting the crew and learning about the plan for the day a reminder of his innate authenticity.
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Walking through the various options laid out before him, he made it clear, “I want to present my style.” Shunning a Moncler x Rick Owen Jacket for a more familiar Stone Island coat. Despite feeling the piece, it wasn’t an accurate reflection of him. Throughout the entire selection process, he was very intentional and considerate of both his personal preferences and the structure of the shoot. The extensive thought behind all the fits reiterated the care in how he presents himself and the irrefutable bond between fashion and personality.
For him, it is more about the aesthetic than the brand. A brief scroll of his Instagram confirms his commitment to a classy combination of streetwear with a distinct focus on complementary pieces rather than labels.
Born and raised in Nijmegen, the forward shared that his interest in fashion emerged in his teens. “I think when I started to earn my own money. When I didn’t have a salary or money, my mother bought me stuff, and I just wore it. But when I got my salary, at 16, 17. I thought, “Hey, let’s try some things and see what I like.”
Now a seasoned pro with a distinctive taste, he is treating the streets of Oxford like a Fashion Week runway. The blend of historical architecture and contemporary essence has given him the perfect canvas to turn it up a notch. Providing the ultimate setting for his effortlessly cool yet chic streetwear looks.
Despite previously playing for the Netherlands youth team, Romeny recently decided to represent the Indonesian national team – known as Timnas. Eligible through his grandmother, who was born in Medan, North Sumatra. Looking back on his first impression of Jakarta, he convinced the entire team to make the trip.
“My first impression of Jakarta was the first time I went there to watch a game and meet the guys. It is a beautiful city with tall buildings and is really nice. It was like you were sitting in a movie, you know? For me, it was so different from Europe. Also, the humidity was crazy; it was so hot. But really, really beautiful city.”
His reputation amongst the locals as a certified fashionista has earned him the nickname El Skena (The Scenery) for his indisputable flair. Recalling his initial reaction to the nickname, he laughed and admitted he was “proud” of the title.
“It was funny because I saw it for a long time in the comments of my post. Elskena, Elskena, Elskena, and I was like, what is this? I tried to translate it on Instagram, but there was no translation. So, when I was in Indonesia, I asked people what it meant. And they said you’re a stylish guy with fashion. So it was really funny that they have it as a nickname, but it’s really big.”
His connection to the Republic was woven throughout his childhood as he reflected on his relationship with his grandmother. Fondly reminiscing over the Indonesian cuisine she used to make, his face visibly beaming with pride as he honoured her memory. And every time he pulls on the red and white jersey, he plays with her in mind – committed to making her proud.
“My grandmother, when she was still alive, always used to make Indonesian food. Like nasi goreng, rice with chicken. It was my favourite food back then and I grew up with the food, so I love it.”
Praising the “magical fans,” his ambitions with the team go beyond being a fashion icon. Lauding the “potential of the country,” he is determined to make them the “best team in Asia.” And boy has he started his international career with aplomb.
El Skena is currently two for two with goals for the national team, spearheading them to a 1-0 win over Bahrain in the most recent World Cup Qualifiers. Rocking the number 10 shirt and playing with the memory of his grandmother firmly lodged in his mind, this baller will not rest until he puts his team on the map. With Patrick Kluivert as his gaffer, it is no surprise that the nation’s sweetheart has been moving clinical in front of goal, also bagging on his debut in the previous game against Australia. Putting the rest of Asia on alert that OR10 is in town.
When quizzed on how it felt to play in front of 70,000 Indonesian fans for the first time, the forward couldn’t speak highly enough of the support. And as he recollected the emotions of his ‘First’ home game, he was engulfed with pride – just as when he spoke about his grandmother. It means more to him, and he will not stop until he leads Indonesia to the biggest stage.
“It was unbelievable! People always ask me how it felt to be on the pitch, but the energy the fans gave, I’ve never seen anywhere else. Winning and scoring, it was magical.”
Renowned for keeping his head high, his trademark celebration is a symbol of strength and perseverance even in the darkest, most challenging of times. When probed about its origin, he revealed that it emerged during a difficult period in his professional career.
“I came up with Noah Ohio at Utrecht, and we weren’t playing at the time, so we were in a period when we talked a lot about life and setbacks. We told each other when we scored that we would do it. Then I went to England, and when I scored my first goal, I did it. It is a reminder to keep your head up and be positive in dark, difficult times. Also, in Indonesia, the platform you have reaches so many people. So it was a beautiful message, and they received it nicely. So many people are tagging me every day, and everyone is doing it. Even a badminton player won, and he did it. So they really love it.”
Throughout the day, the tunes were blasting through the speaker. In between shots, as the team set up for a new scene, he asked me who was on the aux, and I confessed that the recent selection of tracks had all been mine. The song that piqued his interest most was ‘CANZONE D’ODIO’ by Lazza ft Lil Baby, and he asked me to send it to him afterwards. Bonding over our mutual appreciation for Lil Baby, we agreed that the best version of Baby is when he gets into his emotional bag. He mentioned ‘I Promise’ and ‘So Sorry’ as two songs from his recent album that he particularly enjoys.
“I used to like A Boogie Wit da Hoodie a lot when I was 16, 17. But now I’m really into Future, Gunna, and Lil Baby.”
Diving into his musical preferences, we were reminded he was only 24. His favourite artist growing up was A Boogie Wit da Hoodie, although he was quick to remind us that this was when he was 16 years old – and I mean, who didn’t have an A Boogie phase? Now, he is tuned into Future, Lil Durk, and Lil Baby. However, his interests aren’t limited to the US.
Despite being in England for just a few months, he’s locked into the rap scene. The first artist he watched live “was Dave in Amsterdam in like 2018,” and he was quick to let us know he had also seen D-Block Europe in the same city. He also paid homage to Skepta, Central Cee, Nemzzz, and Nines, especially for that “legendary” Fire in the Booth.
The vibe during the shoot was super chill, with Romeny feeling part of the group despite only spending a few hours with us. His integration with the team was most evident when asked about the first Indonesian song he listened to. After a brief intermission to Shazam, the exact name of the track from one of his IG posts, a few blunders in the pronunciation had the entire group in stitches. Some had to look away and avoid eye contact with Ole to stop him from laughing. After a few attempts, we managed to get the answer out in one piece. That moment of shared laughter throughout the group reiterated how comfortable he was. It’s this same confidence that he exudes through his fashion. It’s not just what you wear, but how you wear it.
“It was Garam Dan Madu (by Tenxi). We had it on in the dressing room after we won against Bahrain. I heard the song and I thought, hey this is a good song, so I would say that one.”
When tasked with completing the FF Playlist challenge, with three minutes to compile a selection of songs to share with the community, he decided to ‘cheat’ and use his playlist to curate a selection. After an initial gaff with finding his playlist, he managed to get a few tracks added despite panicking about the ones he missed out on. With matchday vibes in mind, he focussed on hype, energy, and motivational tracks, telling us how important music is in his matchday preparation. As with most players, the forward admitted that you need to go into a game feeling like “I’m Him,” with confidence being a crucial part of playing well.
However, feeling confident isn’t just limited to the tracks he plays, as he divulged the contents of his washbag, which included headphones, moisturiser, perfume, and hair powder.
“Look good, feel good, play good.”
As he acclimatises to the demands of the Championship and settles into life in England, expect Ole Romeny to keep levelling up. One-of-one, he’s made the streets of OX1 his own. Curating IG dumps with the same vision as Steven Spielberg, this baller is the poster boy for the cool kid aesthetic.
At 24, he’s the shining light of a footballing nation looking to make its mark on the international stage. Leading the line, both literally and figuratively, empowered by the Timnas’ formidable support and the memory of his grandmother, he’s got big ambitions.
Representing a population of 285 million, he has become a neighbourhood hero, inspiring the next generation of youngsters who wanna be just like him.
Heavy is the head that wears the crown, but Ole is always keeping his head high.
You can watch the full conversation here.
