Thursday, March 3, 2022 at 13:15• Jordi Tomasowa • Last update: 13:19

Ridgeciano Haps regrets that he did not choose an international career for Suriname earlier. The 28-year-old defender of Venezia had long hoped for an invitation to the Dutch national team, but decided to give up his the Dutch dream last year and opt for Suriname. So far, Haps has appeared in action five times Nationality†

“I’ve waited and hoped for it too long”, Haps reveals to himself Football International† When it turned out that I could play for Suriname, I did so immediately. “It felt like a release. I am just as much Dutch as I am Surinamese. My family is from there, my grandmother still lives there, I often went there on vacation. So all in all it was the perfect solution. Still an international career for one’s own country.”

Haps made his debut for Suriname last June during the won World Cup qualifier against Bermuda (6-0). A month later, the defender also belonged to the selection of former national coach Dean Gorré for the Gold Cup. “It was the first time that we as Dutchmen could play for Suriname”, Haps recalls. That attracted me. Writing history, that’s what I want to do with Venezia and Suriname. The Gold Cup was a start, the first tournament in which Suriname participated.”

Haps, who has played nineteen official matches for Venezia this season, is looking forward to the developments at Suriname. “It should be the prelude to more. With Stanley Menzo we have a good new national coach and we have shown that we can qualify for tournaments. Next summer we will play in the CONCACAF Nations League, we are in the highest group, so America, Canada, Mexico. Great matches.”