Sint Maarten national football team

The Sint Maarten national football team is the football team of Sint Maarten, the Dutch half of the Caribbean island of Saint Martin, and is controlled by the Sint Maarten Soccer Association. Sint Maarten is not a member of FIFA, and therefore is not eligible to enter the World Cup. However, the association planned to apply for FIFA membership in 2016.[3]

Not to be confused with Saint Martin national football team.

Sint Maarten
AssociationSint Maarten
Soccer Association
ConfederationCONCACAF
(North America, Central America, Caribbean)
Sub-confederationCFU (Caribbean)
Head coachElvis Albertus[1]
CaptainJovani Anthony
Most capsRemsley Boelijn (10)
Top scorerGerwin Lake (7)
[2]
Home stadiumRaoul Illidge Sports Complex
FIFA codeSMA
First colours
Second colours
First international
 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 6–1 Sint Maarten 
(Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; 23 April 1989)
Biggest win
 Sint Maarten 4–0 Anguilla 
(Saint Kitts and Nevis; 29 March 1996)
Biggest defeat
 Haiti 13–0 Sint Maarten 
(Port-au-Prince; 10 September 2018)
Caribbean Cup
Appearances1 (first in 1993)
Best resultGroup Stage; 1993

In 2002, the Sint Maarten Soccer Association was given associate membership in CONCACAF and became full members at the XXVIII Ordinary Congress in April 2013[4][5] after becoming an independent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands after the Netherland Antillies was dissolved in 2010.[6] They are also members of the Caribbean Football Union[7] and first took part in the Caribbean Cup in its inaugural edition in 1989.[8]

History

From 1992 to 2016, the team had played approximately only 25 official matches.[9] Between 2000 and 2016, only one match had been played, an unofficial 2–2 draw at home to Sint Eustatius on 20 August 2004.[10] In 2012, SMSA President Owen Nickie stated that the national team's inactivity was due to a lack of needed improvements on their home stadium. He indicated that not having enough players to choose from had also prevented the team from competing in the past but that they had more than enough players at that time. At that time, the association discussed hosting the Leeward Islands Tournament and participating in 2012 Caribbean Cup qualification as two of its objectives for the year. Nickie described not entering a team in the Caribbean Cup in the past as "unfortunate".[11] In August 2014, Sint Maarten was set to co-host the Leeward Islands Tournament which had been dormant at that time for over ten years.[12] However, the tournament was postponed after Sint Maarten withdrew as host because of difficulties with the newly installed lights at the Raoul Illidge Sports Complex and Anguilla, the other host, withdrew for unspecified reasons. One report also indicated that the hosts withdrew because of an "inability to facilitate teams."[13] In May 2015, a match was organized by the SMSA as a showcase for selecting a national team player pool. It was open to all players with a Dutch passport.[14] Although Sint Maarten's senior team was dormant, a youth selection participated in the inaugural CONCACAF Under-15 Championship in August 2013[15] and Sint Maarten co-hosted the 2015 CFU Boy's Under-15 Championship[16] after the 2015 CONCACAF Under-15 Championship was canceled by CONCACAF for unspecified reasons.[17]

2017 Caribbean Cup

Sint Maarten returned to international football in 2016, entering 2017 Caribbean Cup qualification and being drawn into Group 2 along with Grenada and the US Virgin Islands with the first round matches taking place on 22 and 26 March 2016.[18] Sint Maarten had been absent from senior CFU competition for nineteen years as they entered the tournament.[19][20] In January 2016 it was announced that Sint Maarten's squad for 2017 Caribbean Cup qualification would be composed solely of players from Flames United SC,[21] reigning champions from the 2014/2015 Senior league competitions and the champions of the 2012/2013 Excellence Division between the islands of Sint Maarten, Saint Martin and St. Barths.[22] However, shortly thereafter it was reported that the previous report was inaccurate and that Flames United would actually be competing in the CFU Club Championship.[21] Sint Maarten played its first senior men's international in 12 years on 13 March 2016 as it hosted a 2–0 home victory against Anguilla as part of each side's preparation for 2017 Caribbean Cup qualification. Both of Sint Maarten's goals were scored by Joost Röben.[23] In the first match of the tournament, Sint Maarten held Grenada to a scoreless draw in the first half which saw two of Sint Maarten's starters sustain injuries.[24] It was later revealed that Raymond Wolff had sustained a broken rib before coming off in the first half while fellow-Dutchman Rick De Punder was credited with an own goal.[25] Grenada scored five goals in the second half to secure the 5–0 victory. Sint Maarten arrived on Grenada for the 8pm match at 4pm after the funds for the team airfare, paid for by the CFU, did not reach the airline in time and no seats were available. SMSA President Johnny Singh thought that the team would not be able to compete but another flight was arranged in time. The same scenario occurred for the return flight but the team was expected to be home on the Thursday prior to the team's match against USVI on Saturday.[24] Sint Maarten went on to lose the match to USVI 1–2, ending the team's qualifying campaign. Sint Maarten's only goal was scored by Ramsleii Boelijn.[26]

Stadium
Main article: Raoul Illidge Sports Complex

Sint Maarten plays its home matches at the Raoul Illidge Sports Complex in Philipsburg. The stadium has a capacity of 3,000 spectators. It is named after Raoul Illidge, a local philanthropist who laid the groundwork and covered many expenses in the planning of the stadium as part of his support for sport and culture on the island. Unsolicited, he contributed nearly ƒ800,000 for the project.[27] After falling into disrepair, the complex was temporarily closed for renovation in July 2013. The two-part renovation included installation of a new running track, drainage system, and artificial turf, repainting of lighting poles and installation of new, brighter lights, in addition to a renovation of the complex's buildings.[28] The renovation costs were financed by the Dutch funding agency Usona and the Sint Maarten government. The international sports park was official reopened with a ribbon cutting ceremony by Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams and Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Affairs Patricia Lourens-Phillip on 7 March 2014.[29][30]

Competition history

CONCACAF Gold Cup

Sint Maarten never reached the CONCACAF Gold Cup, but played in the qualifications in for the 1993, 1996 and 1998 Gold Cups.

CONCACAF Gold Cup
Year Round GP W D L GS GA
1991Did not enter
1993Did not qualify
1996
1998
2000Withdrew
2002Did not enter
2003
2005Withdrew
2007Did not enter
2009
2011
2013
2015
2017Did not qualify
2019
2021
Total0 Titles000000

CONCACAF Nations League record
CONCACAF Nations League record
Season Division Group Pld W D* L GF GA P/R RK
2019−20 C D 4 0 0 4 6 15 39th
2022–23 C To be determined
Total 4 0 0 4 6 15 39th

Caribbean Cup
Year Round GP W D L GS GA
1989Group Stage4004133
1990Did not enter
1991Did not enter
1992Qualifying211053
1993[nb 1]Group stage5203225
1994Qualifying310259
1995Qualifying210112
1996Qualifying210143
1997Qualifying320163
1998Did not enter
1999Withdrew
2001Did not enter
2005Withdrew
2007Did not enter
2008
2010
2012
2014
2017Qualifying2002011
Total0/172181122592

Fixtures and results

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

2019
14 November 2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League C Turks and Caicos Islands  3–2  Sint Maarten Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands
15:00
Report
Stadium: TCIFA National Academy
Referee: William Anderson (Puerto Rico)

Current squad

The following players were called up for the Concacaf Nations League qualifying match against Dominica on 20 November 2018.
Caps and goals as of 23 March 2019 after the game against Saint Martin.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
22 1GK Sjoerd Van Griensven (1991-06-20) 20 June 1991 3 0 Reggae Lions
20 1GK Cartalino Joseph (2002-04-22) 22 April 2002 0 0 FC Soualiga
1 1GK Jariel Gabriel (2001-04-10) 10 April 2001 3 0 FC Soualiga
3 2DF Jovani Anthony (c) (1989-06-11) 11 June 1989 8 0 Concordia
4 2DF Djai Essed (1998-04-25) 25 April 1998 6 0 Feather River Golden Eagles
5 2DF Diario Forsythe (2001-01-11) 11 January 2001 4 0 Soualiga
14 2DF Andre Knol (2000-09-20) 20 September 2000 5 0 Funmakers
15 2DF Daniel Lange (2000-05-12) 12 May 2000 4 0
2 2DF Jolian Jason (2003-05-03) 3 May 2003 0 0
19 2DF Javier Wadilie (2002-03-05) 5 March 2002 0 0
7 3MF Yannick Dinane (1998-08-13) 13 August 1998 4 0 Dinas Powys
8 3MF Brandon Potmis (1998-11-06) 6 November 1998 6 0 Inter Willemstad
12 3MF Jaine Lindo (1990-09-22) 22 September 1990 2 0 Virginia Beach City
13 3MF Jason Lindo (1996-03-22) 22 March 1996 5 0 Soualiga
16 3MF Terrence Pinas (1999-03-22) 22 March 1999 1 0 Soualiga
17 3MF Yan Kok 0 0
9 4FW Edermar La Cruz (1987-06-10) 10 June 1987 5 0 Soualiga
10 4FW Jaeremi Drijvers (1999-11-12) 12 November 1999 4 2 Soualiga

All-time record
As of 24 March 2019[31]
Opponent Pld W D L GF GA GD
 Anguilla5410111+9
 Antigua and Barbuda310227−5
 Bermuda1001012−12
 British Virgin Islands6213109+1
 Cayman Islands311158−3
 Dominica300316−5
 Grenada100105−5
 Guadeloupe200227−5
 Haiti1001013−13
 Jamaica200225−3
 Martinique2011111−10
 Netherlands Antilles100112−1
 Puerto Rico100103−3
 Saint Barthélemy201146−2
 Saint Kitts and Nevis411237−4
 Saint Martin210156−1
 Turks and Caicos Islands200248−4
 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines100116−5
 U.S. Virgin Islands100112−1
Total421062652121−69

Footnotes
  1. Includes both qualifying and final round matches

References
  1. "St. Maarten defeats St. Martin in CONCACAF Nations League Group C game 4-3". sxmislandtime.com. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  2. "Forbes and Lake Steal the Show as Turks and Caicos Down Sint Maarten". CONCACAF. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  3. "The Daily Herald's 2015 Sports Person of the Year". The Daily Herald. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  4. "CONCACAF applauds Sint Maarten advancement". CONCACAF. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  5. "CONCACAF profile". CONCACAF. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  6. Smith, Natanga. "Dutch Curacao, St Maarten now independent". Nation News. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  7. "CFU profile". Caribbean Football Union. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  8. "Shell Football Cup to kick off April 1989". Jamaica Gleaner. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  9. "(Dutch) Sint Maarten – List of International Matches". RSSSF. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  10. "CFD profile". Caribbean Football Database. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  11. "Sports: Nickey: "We have to restrict abuse of field"". Today SXM. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  12. "Return of Leeward Islands Football Competition". SKN Vibes. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  13. Baptiste, Neto. "Leeward Islands Tournament postponed". The Daily Observer. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  14. "Soccer Association National Team". The Daily Herald. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  15. "Player Profiles". CONCACAF. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  16. Nicholson, Paul. "CFU step in to fill U15 tournament gap in St Maarten and Anguilla". insideworldfootball.com. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  17. "CONCACAF cancels Under-15 Boys' Championship". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  18. "2016 Scotia Bank CFU Caribbean Cup Groupings". Caribbean Football Union. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  19. "CFD Tweet". Caribbean Football Database. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  20. "Draw sets Caribbean's road to 2017 Gold Cup". CONCACAF. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  21. "SMSA represented at the CFU Men's Caribbean Cup Draw in Antigua". soualiganewsday.com. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  22. "St. Maarten draws US Virgin Islands, Grenada in first round Caribbean Cup". The Daily Herald. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  23. "Sint Maarten and Martinique win friendlies". Caribbean Football Union. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  24. "Team St. Maarten hoping to be home in time for game". The Daily Herald. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  25. Minnaard, Mitchell. "Wolff een gebroken rib, De Punder een eigen doelpunt als aandenken". PZC. Archived from the original on 25 March 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  26. "Caribbean Cup Recap: March 26, 2016 Matches". CONCACAF. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  27. "Official opening of the Raoul Illidge Sports Complex and Max Phelipa Zoological Gardens". TBF. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  28. "Football Field and Running Track at Raoul Illidge Sports Complex Temporarily Closed Off as of Monday". Sint Maarten News Network. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  29. "Appreciation for renovation of Raoul Illidge Sports Complex". Sint Maarten Today. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  30. Lourens Philip, Patricia. "Minister Patricia Lourens-Philip Speech Raoul Illidge Sports Complex". Sint Maarten Government. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  31. "World Football Elo Ratings: Sint Maarten". Elo Ratings. Retrieved 3 July 2017.
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