WILLEMSTAD – In early November, Curaçao’s hockey community achieved a historic milestone. During the 49th Congress of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) in Muscat, Oman, the island was officially welcomed as a member of the global hockey community.
The secretary of the Curaçao Hockey Federation (CHF), Derk de Wolf, expressed pride in this achievement, as shared on the Hockey.nl website. Together with federation president Diederik van Buuren, De Wolf worked tirelessly to place Curaçao on the international hockey map. “Curaçao is now officially part of the global hockey family,” Van Buuren stated.
At the congress, Curaçao received an official flag and certificate to mark its membership. The island became the 146th nation to join the FIH, alongside countries like Bahrain, Chad, and Senegal.
Hockey’s Slow but Steady Growth
Hockey remains a small sport in Curaçao, with the federation boasting just over 200 members across four clubs. Matches are held at the CVV Willemstad grounds. However, football and baseball dominate as the island’s most popular sports, with the recent Gold Cup qualification of Curaçao’s national football team drawing significant media attention.
Despite this, hockey is gradually gaining traction. De Wolf explained, “We need to be creative to reach people, using platforms like TikTok and Instagram.”
Future Plans
FIH membership opens doors for Curaçao to participate in international tournaments. While entry into the Pan America Cup came too soon, the focus now shifts to qualifying for the Central American & Caribbean Games in 2026. Qualification matches are set for May 2025 in the Dominican Republic.
Youth engagement is also growing. “We have a talented youth group ready for their first tournament,” said De Wolf. “But we remain realistic and are taking it step by step.”
Collaboration and Scouting
The CHF is exploring collaborations with the Dutch Hockey Federation (KNHB), considering initiatives like bringing Dutch coaches to Curaçao and organizing hockey clinics on the island.
Additionally, the federation is considering the inclusion of players with ties to Curaçao—such as children of Curaçaoan parents—to strengthen the national team while maintaining a local connection.
Financial Support
Securing sponsorship is another key objective for the federation. The CHF is seeking partners to support the development of hockey on the island. “We are in discussions with tour operators and businesses, but it takes time to finalize agreements,” said De Wolf.
Future Matches
A proposed friendly match between Curaçao and the Netherlands, suggested by former Dutch international Jacques Brinkman, remains a long-term goal. “We will explore how we can make this happen,” Van Buuren concluded.