Etienne Vaessen will be international for Suriname from June, the RKC Waalwijk goalkeeper said in conversation with the Algemeen Dagblad. Recently, national coach Stanley Menzo called the goalkeeper to ask if he is interested in an international career and now Vaessen has made the decision to join the national team.

Vaessen's debut only depends on completing a few formalities, after which the goalkeeper can be officially called up for the upcoming international matches in June. Suriname will start the World Cup qualifying series in two months.

“My grandfather was born in Paramaribo, my father is half Surinamese. So I have a quarter, that is the minimum needed if you want to represent Suriname,” Vaessen explains in conversation with the newspaper.

“I thought about this a few years ago, but my then agent said it was a lot of hassle to sort out the family tree.”

“Then I left it for a while. But now Henk Fraser and Iwan Redan (both of Surinamese descent, ed.) came to me and asked if I would be open to it.”

“My father's surname is Burnet, my mother's name is Vaessen. My father worked abroad and did not recognize me at the time. My mother also thought it was better for me to be called Vaessen in the Netherlands, that's how it worked then. My parents are divorced, I do have half-brothers who are called Burnet by their last name.”

In Suriname they are just as enthusiastic about the possible arrival of Vaessen as the other way around. “Menzo called me and said: 'I didn't know what I was reading'. He wants me there right away in June. I am not in the picture for the Dutch team and even if that were to happen, I might be the third or fourth goalkeeper. In Suriname I can become the first goalkeeper,” said Vaessen.

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