MIAMI, Florida – This past weekend the Curacao Football Federation celebrated its centennial with a weekend of festivities to commemorate the Caribbean island’s 100th football anniversary.
Curacao Football Federation President Shaheen Elhage hosted representatives from FIFA, Concacaf, CFU President Randolph Harris of Barbados, KNVB President Just Spee, Bonaire Football Federation President Ludwig Balentin, Aruba Football Federation Vice-President Hubert Solagnier and many others from the world of football as part of the celebrations.
The driving force behind NAVU and FFK was Mordy Maduro, president of CVB from 1951 and of NAVU from 1958 to 1971. He was also elected vice-president of FIFA in 1960 and re-elected in 1968. Thanks to him many foreign teams visited Curaçao in those years. His great contribution to football development was honored in 2002 by naming the NAVU Development Center after him.
Among the activities over the weekend was the ABCS tournament, which was played between the Senior National Teams of Aruba and Bonaire and a mix of Under-20 and Senior National Team players from Curacao.
The Final was played on Sunday, with Curacao emerging as 1-0 winners over Bonaire on a goal from Rudrick Pop in the 76’.
On Saturday, led by President Elhage, the Curacao Football Federation honored people who have made a significant contribution to different football teams affiliated within the federation, and to the development of the game in Curacao. This was followed by a ceremony on Sunday in which the top 100 players of all-time in Curacao football were honored, with 39 receiving honorable certificates in person.
The weekend was then capped by the hosting of the Centennial Reception, which included the presentation of a publication on 100 years of organized football in Curacao.
A copy of the publication was also presented to Concacaf Chief Officer of Member Associations and Office of the President, Marco Leal.
The first club in Curaçao was established at a time when the island had just 25,000 inhabitants and there wasn’t a football field in sight.
The Curaçao Football Federation (Curaçaose Voetbal Bond) CVB was established and organized the first Curaçao Championship with eight clubs participating.
The First CONCACAF Championship took place in San José, Costa Rica. Participating countries were Costa Rica, Curaçao, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Panama. Curaçao came in 3rd.
Curacao national team performed well in the next CONCACAF Championship and won the Central American and Caribbean Games gold medal. Hato became a legend in South America and the Caribbean and will always be remembered as “El pantera negra”. He was offered several contracts abroad but always chose to stay close to home. The Curaçao national stadium was later named after him.
