Big dreams for tiny Caribbean island
Full FIFA membership could help transform the Dutch Caribbean island’s fortunes
FIFA membership would bring funds that could help repair sports facilities that were damaged by Hurricane Irma in 2017
The start of 2022 World Cup qualifying was a fillip for many national teams but not for those outside of FIFA’s fold, such as the Dutch Caribbean territory of Sint Maarten.
Sint Maarten played only sporadically until the Netherlands Antilles was dissolved politically in 2010. Three years later, the Sint Maarten Soccer Association, the SXMFF, was made a full member of CONCACAF, with the national team playing in the Caribbean Cup qualifiers in 2016.
That proved unsuccessful but the advent of the Nations League brought some success. The team suffered drubbings against Haiti and Bermuda but beat Saint-Martin – the French territory that shares the northern half of the same island – 4-3 in 2019.
Subsequent games brought respectable defeats but Sint Maarten haven’t played since a stoppage-time goal saw the team edged out 3-2 by the Turks & Caicos Islands in November 2019. The coronavirus pandemic hindered development, but so has the lack of FIFA membership.
Aruba have been a FIFA member since 1988 and Curacao took over the Antilles’ membership, but the world body’s rejection last year of a bid from another Dutch Caribbean island, Bonaire, was a blow to Sint Maarten’s aspirations.
Unlike Bonaire, Sint Maarten has a looser affiliation with the Netherlands so may stand a better chance. Sint Maarten secretary Gene Kemble says: “The SXMFF definitely wants to become a member of FIFA.”
FIFA membership would bring funds that could help repair sports facilities that were damaged by Hurricane Irma in 2017. “The playing fields are still damaged,” adds Kemble. “Most sporting facilities on the island are government controlled, so we have to hope that they make the necessary upgrades to the facilities very soon.”
The Dutch federation, the KNVB, sent an instructor to train 21 local coaches in May. The island league comprises nine clubs and was completed in March, with Flames United crowned winners.
Islanders trying to play overseas usually look for scholarships in North America, such as Djai Essed, who went to Feather River College in California. Midfielder Yannick Dinane however, took a different route.
After coming to Europe, he played for Cardiff & Vale College, then in 2019 signed for Dinas Powys in the Welsh League Division 1, the third tier of Welsh football.
Dinane describes his spell in Wales as a “great experience” but is a free agent again. “It’s complicated looking for a club when you have no help getting connected with teams,” says Dinane, who came on as a second-half substitute in the Turks & Caicos game but has no idea when his next cap will come, as the national team currently has no coach.
When a coach is eventually appointed, they will have a small domestic pool to choose from: Sint Maarten’s population is only 43,000.
Theoretically anyone with a Dutch passport is eligible and players from Europe have featured, such as Dutch teacher Rick de Punder, who went to Sint Maarten for work and featured for the national team alongside colleague Raymond Wolff.
Neighbours Curacao have mined Europe for players but Kemble says: “In that sense our player pool is very big but we definitely look at players who have a background or connection with Sint Maarten.”
Sint Maarten’s dreams are relatively limited but could be transformed on many levels by FIFA membership.