Curacao’s team doctor, Suzanne Hoorman, has been advising the side’s footballers to spend intimate time with their partners as a way to play well at the World Cup — and the approach paid off for the Caribbean side before their match against Ecuador.
Curacao lost their first World Cup match 7-0 to Germany. But in their second match they staged a comeback, drawing with one of this World Cup’s dark horses, Ecuador. Goalkeeper Eloy Room set a record with 15 saves. Was the secret behind it the close moments spent with partners?
On the advice of the team doctor, Hoorman, coach Dick Advocaat has given players the freedom to have their girlfriends or wives stay with them. Before a World Cup, many teams take strict steps over players spending time with wives or girlfriends; at the 2010 World Cup, Italy coach Fabio Capello imposed a virtual curfew on his players. Many teams believe in striking a balance.
Curacao’s philosophy is different, however. Hoorman wants the footballers to spend close moments with their partners before a match, on the grounds that it keeps the team environment far more relaxed.
‘Players can stay with their wives, girlfriends and children. Those who have families are being given extra rooms. Usually no team takes such a step at a World Cup,’ Hoorman said.
She added: ‘I think it has helped. The mental effect is greater than the physical. In such a big tournament, having the company of family is very necessary; it leaves no room for low spirits. Curacao may be a small country, but they are very lively. They love to enjoy themselves and want to spend time with family. Watching them reminds me of my own country, Brazil.’
There is another reason too. Curacao’s population is only 150,000, and all the players are of foreign origin. Many do not play for big clubs and are not financially well off, so they cannot afford to bring their families to America on their own money. In this situation, Curacao’s football federation has stepped in, bearing the full cost of bringing the families over.
‘Our players do not have much money. It is not possible for them to keep their families in America week after week, so the federation is bearing that cost, providing a place where the players’ partners and children can stay, with no worries,’ Hoorman said.
Hoorman was born in Brazil and is the only female medical staff member at this World Cup. She has previously worked with Real Madrid, PSV Eindhoven and the Netherlands under-16 team.
Curacao are in Group E and currently have one point from two matches, with their final match against Ivory Coast. A win there would give them four points and a possible third-place finish in the group, leaving them a chance of reaching the round of 16 as one of the best third-placed teams. But, well behind on goal difference, they will have to look to results in the other groups.
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