Guus Hiddink has announced his first selection as national coach of Curaçao. As expected, the elected lord selects Vurnon Anita, whose move to the island was recently approved by FIFA. The 24-man selection of Hiddink is full of players with Eredivisie experience and also has four players who are without a club.
Anita played three international matches for the the Dutch in the past, but the midfielder of RKC Waalwijk was able to change football nationality due to changed regulations. It will be his first international matches for Anita since 2010, when he last played for the Dutch national team. Other well-known names in the selection are former PSV goalkeeper Eloy Room and ex-Feyenoord defender Cuco Martina.
Former FC Groningen brothers Juninho Bacuna and Leandro Bacuna, both active in the English Championship, were also invited. In the front, the attacking impulses will have to come from former AZ striker Charlison Benschop and SC Cambuur wing striker Jarchinio Antonia. Curaçao will start the very tough World Cup qualification cycle for the final tournament in Qatar at the end of March. The first opponents in the group are Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Cuba.
Target: Eloy Room (Columbus Crew), Tyrick Bodak (PSV), Zeus de la Paz (Oakland Roots)
Defense: Cuco Martina (without club), Juriën Gaari (RKC Waalwijk), Suently Alberto (without club), Shermar Martina (MVV Maastricht), Roshon van Eijma (Preussen Münster), Michaël Maria (NAC Breda)
Midfield: Jeremy de Nooijer (Al-Shamal), Juninho Bacuna (Huddersfield Town), Vurnon Anita (RKC Waalwijk), Leandro Bacuna (Cardiff City), Roly Bonevacia (without club), Shermaine Martina (without club)
Attack: Rangelo Janga (NEC), Gevaro Nepomuceno (FC Dinamo), Anthony van den Hurk (Helsingborgs), Jeremy Antonisse (PSV), Kenji Gorré (CD Nacional), Elson Hooi (Muaither SC), Charlison Benschop (Apollon Limassol), Jarchinio Antonia (SC Cambuur), Rigino Cicilia (1. FC Slovácko)