Sint_Maarten_national_football_team

Sint Maarten national football team

Sint Maarten national football team

Team on the Dutch half of Saint Martin


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 not eligible to enter the World Cup. However, the association applied for FIFA membership in 2016 but was rejected.[4] In April 2022, the Sint Maarten Soccer Association appealed to the CAS against FIFA’s ruling.[5]

Quick Facts Association, Confederation ...

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[6][7] after becoming an independent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands after the Netherlands Antilles was dissolved in 2010.[8] They are also members of the Caribbean Football Union[9] and first took part in the Caribbean Cup in its inaugural edition in 1989.[10]

History

From 1992 to 2016, the team had played approximately only 25 official matches.[11] Between 2000 and 2016, only one match had been played, an unofficial 2–2 draw at home to Sint Eustatius on 20 August 2004.[12] 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".[13] 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.[14] 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."[15] 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.[16] Although Sint Maarten's senior team was dormant, a youth selection participated in the inaugural CONCACAF Under-15 Championship in August 2013[17] and Sint Maarten co-hosted the 2015 CFU Boy's Under-15 Championship[18] after the 2015 CONCACAF Under-15 Championship was canceled by CONCACAF for unspecified reasons.[19]

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.[20] Sint Maarten had been absent from senior CFU competition for nineteen years as they entered the tournament.[21][22] 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,[23] 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.[24] 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.[23] 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.[25] 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.[26] 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.[27] 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.[26] 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.[28]

Stadium

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.[29] 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.[30] 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.[31][32]

Results and fixtures

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

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixture

2023

24 January Hybrid friendly Sint Maarten  0–1 Netherlands Telstar U18 Nieuw-Vennep, Netherlands
19:30 UTC+1 Stadium: Voetbalvereniging SV DIOS
14 March Hybrid friendly VV Spijkenisse Netherlands 1–1  Sint Maarten Spijkenisse, Netherlands
20:15 UTC+1 Stadium: Sportpark Jaap Riedijk
25 March 2022–23 Nations League Sint Maarten  6–1  Bonaire Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
16:00
  • De Vries 5'
  • Lake 9', 55', 84' (pen.)
  • Amatkarijo 46'
  • Illidge 62'
Report Montero 69' Stadium: Bethlehem Soccer Stadium
Referee: Nima Saghafi (United States)
17 June 2023 Gold Cup qualification French Guiana  4–1  Sint Maarten Fort Lauderdale, United States
16:30 UTC−4
Report Stadium: DRV PNK Stadium
Referee: Randy Eancarnación (Dominican Republic)
10 September 2023–24 Nations League Guadeloupe  4–0  Sint Maarten Sainte-Anne, Guadeloupe
15:30 UTC−4
Report Stadium: Stade Municipal de Sainte-Anne
Referee: Pierre-Luc Lauzière (Canada)
12 October 2023–24 Nations League Sint Maarten  2–3  Saint Kitts and Nevis The Valley, Anguilla
15:00 UTC−4
Report
Stadium: Raymond E. Guishard Technical Centre
Attendance: 122
Referee: Josué Ugalde (Costa Rica)
15 October 2023–24 Nations League Saint Kitts and Nevis  0–1  Sint Maarten Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis
19:00 UTC−4 Report
Stadium: SKNFA Technical Center
Referee: Yadel Martínez (Cuba)
16 November 2023–24 Nations League Sint Maarten  0–2  Guadeloupe Wildey, Barbados
19:00 UTC−4 Report
Stadium: Wildey Turf
Referee: Reon Radix (Grenada)
19 November 2023–24 Nations League Saint Lucia  1–2  Sint Maarten Gros Islet, Saint Lucia
15:00 UTC−4
Report
Stadium: Daren Sammy Cricket Ground
Referee: Marco Ortiz (Mexico)

2024

4 June Friendly Bonaire  1-3  Sint Maarten Doorwerth, Netherlands
20:00 Stadium: Sportpark De Waayenberg

Coaching history

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup qualification.[33]

Caps and goals as of 28 March 2023 after the game against the US Virgin Islands.

More information No., Pos. ...

Recent call-ups

The following players have also been called up to the Sint Maarten squad within the last twelve months.

More information Pos., Player ...

Records

As of 19 November 2023[34]
Players in bold are still active with Sint Maarten.

Most appearances

More information Rank, Player ...

Top goalscorers

More information Rank, Name ...

Competitive record

CONCACAF Gold Cup

More information CONCACAF Gold Cup record, Year ...

CONCACAF Nations League

More information CONCACAF Nations League record, League ...

Caribbean Cup

More information Caribbean Cup record, Qualification record ...
*Draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.

Head-to-head record

As of 24 March 2019[35]
More information Opponent, Pld ...

Historical kits

Footnotes


    References

    1. "St. Maarten defeats St. Martin in CONCACAF Nations League Group C game 4-3". sxmislandtime.com. Archived from the original on 29 March 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
    2. "Forbes and Lake Steal the Show as Turks and Caicos Down Sint Maarten". CONCACAF. Archived from the original on 11 October 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
    3. "St. Maarten Football Federation takes FIFA to court over membership ruling". The Daily Herald. 5 April 2022. Archived from the original on 25 October 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
    4. "CONCACAF applauds Sint Maarten advancement". CONCACAF. Archived from the original on 3 January 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
    5. "CONCACAF profile". CONCACAF. Archived from the original on 7 July 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
    6. Smith, Natanga. "Dutch Curacao, St Maarten now independent". Nation News. Archived from the original on 6 February 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
    7. "CFU profile". Caribbean Football Union. Archived from the original on 13 January 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
    8. "Shell Football Cup to kick off April 1989". Jamaica Gleaner. Archived from the original on 7 October 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
    9. "(Dutch) Sint Maarten – List of International Matches". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 7 October 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
    10. "CFD profile". Caribbean Football Database. Archived from the original on 26 December 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
    11. "Sports: Nickey: "We have to restrict abuse of field"". Today SXM. 16 February 2012. Archived from the original on 6 February 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
    12. "Return of Leeward Islands Football Competition". SKN Vibes. Archived from the original on 4 July 2014. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
    13. Baptiste, Neto. "Leeward Islands Tournament postponed". The Daily Observer. Archived from the original on 6 February 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
    14. "Soccer Association National Team". The Daily Herald. Archived from the original on 6 February 2016. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
    15. "Player Profiles". CONCACAF. Archived from the original on 6 February 2016. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
    16. Nicholson, Paul. "CFU step in to fill U15 tournament gap in St Maarten and Anguilla". insideworldfootball.com. Archived from the original on 6 February 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
    17. "CONCACAF cancels Under-15 Boys' Championship". Jamaica Observer. 9 June 2015. Archived from the original on 22 January 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
    18. "2016 Scotia Bank CFU Caribbean Cup Groupings". Caribbean Football Union. Retrieved 17 January 2016.[permanent dead link]
    19. "CFD Tweet". Caribbean Football Database. Archived from the original on 6 October 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
    20. "Draw sets Caribbean's road to 2017 Gold Cup". CONCACAF. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
    21. "SMSA represented at the CFU Men's Caribbean Cup Draw in Antigua". soualiganewsday.com. Archived from the original on 26 January 2016. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
    22. "St. Maarten draws US Virgin Islands, Grenada in first round Caribbean Cup". The Daily Herald. Archived from the original on 7 February 2016. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
    23. "Sint Maarten and Martinique win friendlies". Caribbean Football Union. Archived from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
    24. "Team St. Maarten hoping to be home in time for game". The Daily Herald. Archived from the original on 15 September 2016. 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. Archived from the original on 23 August 2016. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
    27. "Official opening of the Raoul Illidge Sports Complex and Max Phelipa Zoological Gardens". TBF. Archived from the original on 26 April 2022. 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. Archived from the original on 25 January 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
    29. "Appreciation for renovation of Raoul Illidge Sports Complex". Sint Maarten Today. Archived from the original on 26 January 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
    30. Lourens Philip, Patricia. "Minister Patricia Lourens-Philip Speech Raoul Illidge Sports Complex". Sint Maarten Government. Archived from the original on 27 January 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
    31. "Final Selection Confirmed". Instagram. Sint Maarten Football Federation. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
    32. "Sint Maarten". National Football Teams.
    33. "World Football Elo Ratings: Sint Maarten". Elo Ratings. Archived from the original on 7 September 2018. Retrieved 3 July 2017.

      Share this article:

      This article uses material from the Wikipedia article Sint_Maarten_national_football_team, and is written by contributors. Text is available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 International License; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.