Jetro Willems spent five days in the notorious Bon Futuro prison on his native island of Curaçao in the summer of 2019, as Eintracht Frankfurt’s left back shows in the documentary Di velt pa SDKK. Willems shows how things are going behind bars in Curaçao and hopes to contribute to giving prisoners a new chance on the island. “This visit has given me a different view of the world”, says the former PSV player.

Willems has not played a football match since January 18, when he tore off his anterior cruciate ligament in the game of Newcastle United against Chelsea. Six months earlier, Willems was on Curaçao for the now published documentary. That was no exception, as the left wing defender regularly returns to the island where he lived until he was four years old. Willems regularly makes donations to Curaçao to build schools and improve living conditions. “Everyone knows that I have money and opportunities”, Willems says in the documentary. “But I do this from my heart, to help people move forward.”

So last summer he had himself locked up in prison on the Caribbean island. Willems spent five days with the prisoners, gave lectures to them and played a football match. “It is difficult to make the most of the current situation in Curaçao”, says Willems. “But if we want to change it, it starts with us. Everyone deserves a chance. We have to help the prisoners to improve their lives. If we don’t, they will come out as bad people. I’m not saying we they should forgive, not that, but give them a chance. “

Willems, who has almost recovered from his serious knee injury, also involved his nephew Sherell Floranus in his project in Curaçao. The latter plays as a right back for sc Heerenveen and was captivated by the story of Willems. “Jetro asked me if I wanted to go along. It seemed like a great project, so I wanted to seize this opportunity. I think that will also make you look at prison differently.”