André Kamperveen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
André Kamperveen
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| Born |
Rudi André Kamperveen
27 September 1924 Paramaribo, Surinam
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| Died | 8 December 1982 (aged 58) Fort Zeelandia, Paramaribo, Suriname
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| Political party | Progressive National Party | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse(s) |
Lea van Leuvenum
(m. 1980–1982) |
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Rudi André Kamperveen (born 27 September 1924 – died 8 December 1982) was a famous Surinamese person. He was a talented football player, a leader in sports, a politician, and a businessman.
During his time as a player, he was a forward and captain for the Suriname national football team in the 1940s. He played professionally in Brazil for Paysandu Sport Club. He also played in the Netherlands for HFC Haarlem, becoming the first Surinamese player to play professionally there.
After his playing career, he became the Minister for Sport in Suriname. He also helped start the Caribbean Football Union in 1978 and was its first President. He was also a vice-president of FIFA, the world's football governing body.
Sadly, he passed away in 1982 during a difficult time in Suriname's history. The André Kamperveen Stadion in Suriname is named after him to honor his memory. He was also added to the CONCACAF Hall of Fame.
Contents
Early Life and Sports Beginnings
André Kamperveen, often called 'Ampie', was born on 27 September 1924 in Paramaribo, Surinam. People knew him as Suriname's "Man of the People."
He enjoyed many sports like athletics, basketball, boxing, and judo. But football was his favorite. He started playing at age 11 and showed great talent early on. In 1942, when he was 18, he joined the military service.
Football Career Highlights
Playing for Clubs
MVV Football Club
During his military service, Kamperveen joined MVV, a military football club. They played in the SVB Hoofdklasse, Suriname's top football league. He was a popular player, scoring many goals. He helped MVV win a national championship in 1948.
Paysandu SC in Brazil
In 1950, André Kamperveen moved to Brazil. He joined Paysandu Sport Club in Belém for one year. This made him the first professional football player from Suriname. He learned Brazilian Portuguese to talk with his new teammates.
In 1952, a special Caribbean All-Stars team visited Suriname. Kamperveen was chosen to play for this team. He scored two goals in their first match against the Suriname national football team. This game ended in a 2–2 draw.
HFC Haarlem in the Netherlands
In 1954, Kamperveen went to the Netherlands to study. He took classes in football, boxing, judo, and basketball. While there, he signed with HFC Haarlem. This made him the first Surinamese player to play in the Netherlands.
He scored two goals in a cup match in 1956. That same year, he earned a high-level coaching diploma from the KNVB, the Dutch football association. After his studies, he returned to Suriname.
Playing for Suriname
Representing His Country
Kamperveen played for the Suriname national football team. He first played for them in 1945 when he was 21. He quickly became the team's captain.
In 1947, he scored four goals in a huge 9–0 win against French Guiana. This was a record win for Suriname. In 1948, he traveled with the team to the Netherlands. This was Suriname's first trip to Europe. He scored a goal in a 2–2 draw against Ajax.
He also played against the Netherlands national football team in 1954. Suriname lost 4–3 in a close match at home.
Coaching Teams
Managing Suriname's National Team
In 1958, Kamperveen became the manager of the Suriname national football team. He led the team in their first ever FIFA World Cup qualification matches for the 1962 tournament.
Leading SV Transvaal
He also became the manager for S.V. Transvaal in 1958. He guided them to win the national championship in 1962.
Football Achievements
Player Awards
- MVV
- National Championship: 1948
Manager Awards
- SV Transvaal
- National Championship: 1962
Individual Awards
- SVB Golden Ball Award: 1960
Basketball and Judo Careers
Basketball Player
Besides football, Kamperveen loved basketball. He played for the basketball team of the Surinamese military. He was a point guard for the Nationaal Leger team.
He also played for the Suriname national basketball team. In 1957, he even helped officiate a game between Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.
Judo Pioneer
André Kamperveen made history in judo in Suriname. He became the first person in Suriname to earn a black belt. He reached the 2nd dan level in 1957.
On 3 May 1957, he opened the first judo training hall, called a dojo, in Paramaribo. It was named Kodokan, after the famous dojo in Japan. This dojo was very important for judo in Suriname. In 1968, he founded the Surinamese Judo Association and became its first leader.
Broadcasting and Journalism
Kamperveen was also a big name in sports journalism and broadcasting. In 1950, he helped start 'Sport Ontspannings Kroniek', a weekly sports newspaper. He wrote a lot for sports papers in Suriname.
He was also involved in some of the first live radio broadcasts of football matches. He worked with local radio stations like Rapar and Apintie. In 1963, he founded the Association of Sports Journalists in Suriname (VSJS) and was its first chairman.
In 1966, Suriname got its first television station, STVS. Two years later, Kamperveen created the first weekly sports show for the station, called 'Sportrevue'.
Radio ABC: His Own Station
On 6 December 1975, Kamperveen's dream came true. He opened his own radio station, Ampies Broadcasting Corporation Suriname, known as ABC, the lovestation. His sons, Johnny and Henk, joined him at the station. ABC became a popular station, playing music and sharing news, sports, and humor.
Leadership in Sports Organizations
Kamperveen held many important leadership roles in sports. After getting a diploma from the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB), he joined the board of the Surinamese Football Association.
He also served on the board of CONCACAF, which governs football in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. He helped create the Caribbean Football Union and became its first president. He was also elected vice-president of FIFA, the world's top football organization.
Some of his key roles included:
- Becoming a board member of the Surinamese Football Association in 1964.
- Founding the Surinamese Judo Association in 1968.
- Becoming a member of the CONCACAF disciplinary committee in 1973.
- Organizing Suriname's first national billiards tournaments in 1974.
- Becoming an honorary chairman of the Association of Sports Journalists in Suriname in 1976.
- Being elected vice-president of FIFA in 1976.
- Becoming the first president of the Caribbean Football Union in 1978.
- Serving as the Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sports in Suriname from 1980.
In 1982, as FIFA vice-president, Kamperveen attended the opening ceremony of the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain. He saw the start of international careers for Surinamese-Dutch players like Frank Rijkaard and Ruud Gullit.
Personal Life
André Kamperveen had three children from his first marriage: two sons, Johnny and Henk, and a daughter, Lilian. His sons, Johnny and Henk, worked with him at Radio ABC. Johnny became a popular radio host.
He later married Lea van Leuvenum in 1980. They did not have children together.
Political Involvement
After a military takeover in Suriname in 1980, Kamperveen was appointed Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sports. However, he disagreed with the military government's direction. He believed Suriname should be a democracy. He spoke out against the military rule through his writings and on his radio station, ABC.
His Passing
On 7 December 1982, soldiers took André Kamperveen from his home to Fort Zeelandia. He was one of 15 men who had spoken out against the military government. These men were tragically killed. The government claimed they were trying to escape, but their bodies showed signs of torture.
His son, Johnny, was almost taken too but managed to escape to the Netherlands. The ABC Radio building was also destroyed that night. André Kamperveen's funeral on 13 December 1982 was attended by thousands of people.
Remembering André Kamperveen
The Kamperveen family has worked for many years to seek justice for the events of December 1982. The trial related to these events began in 2007 and ended in 2019. The court found the main suspect, Desi Bouterse, guilty. This showed that even high-ranking officials are not above the law in Suriname.
In 1993, Johnny and Henk Kamperveen returned to Paramaribo. They rebuilt the ABC Radio station, and it was back on air after 11 years. Sadly, Johnny passed away in 2003.
In 1988, the National Stadium in Paramaribo was renamed the André Kamperveen Stadion in his honor. On 1 October 2000, a bronze statue of André Kamperveen was placed outside the stadium. This was to celebrate the Surinamese Football Association's 80th Anniversary.
See Also
- December murders
- André Kamperveen Stadion
Images for kids
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Bronze statue of André Kamperveen at the André Kamperveen Stadion in Paramaribo.
