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Bonaire national football team facts for kids

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Bonaire
Shirt badge/Association crest
Association Federashon Futbòl Boneriano
Confederation CONCACAF (North America)
Sub-confederation CFU (Caribbean)
Head coach Rilove Janga
Most caps Yurick Seinpaal (20)
Top scorer Ayrton Cicilia (7)
Home stadium Stadion Antonio Trenidat
FIFA code BES
BOE
First colours
Second colours
Elo ranking
Current 193 Decrease 1 (3 March 2019)
Highest 185 (February 2010)
Lowest 196 (November 2018)
First international
Netherlands Aruba 4–0 Bonaire Netherlands
(Aruba; 4 February 1934)
as modern Bonaire
 Curaçao 4–0 Bonaire 
(Willemstad, Netherlands Antilles; 28 February 2010)
Biggest win
 Aruba 0–5 Bonaire 
(Oranjestad, Netherlands Antilles; 6 July 1984)
as modern Bonaire
 Turks and Caicos Islands 1–4 Bonaire 
(Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands; 3 June 2022)
 Anguilla 0–3 Bonaire 
(The Valley, Anguilla; 18 November 2023)
Biggest defeat
 Curaçao 10–0 Bonaire Netherlands
(Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles; 9 August 1969)
as modern Bonaire
 Suriname 8–0 Bonaire 
(Oranjestad, Aruba; 13 July 2012)

The Bonaire national football team (Dutch: Bonairiaans voetbalelftal; Papiamento: Selekshon Bonerianu di futbòl) is the national football team of the Caribbean island of Bonaire, a public body of the Netherlands. It is under the control of the Bonaire Football Federation. It became a member of the CFU and an associate member of CONCACAF on 19 April 2013. after which it became a full CONCACAF member on 10 June 2014 The team can participate in the CONCACAF Gold Cup and Caribbean Cup because of their membership in the confederation and sub-confederation. However, Bonaire is not a member of FIFA and therefore can not compete in the FIFA World Cup or other FIFA events.

History

Between 1960 when the Bonaire Football Federation was founded and 1988, a Bonaire selection played over fifty unofficial interinsular matches against Curaçao and Aruba. The first such match was a 0–2 defeat to Curaçao on 7 March 1960. On 14 January 1987 and 16 January 1991, an amateur Dutch selection played matches against Bonaire on Bonaire while touring the Caribbean. The matches ended in 1–4 and 2–5 defeats, respectively. In June 2008, a Bonaire selection was assembled for a match against NEC Nijmegen as the club held a training camp on the Island. Approximately 1500 spectators attended the match at the Municipal Stadium. The match also marked Lasse Schöne's first appearance for the club.

Until 2010 people from Bonaire competed in confederated football as part of the Netherlands Antilles national football team. After the Netherlands Antilles was dissolved as a unified political entity (a country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands) on 10 October 2010, the five constituent islands took on new constitutional statuses within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Netherlands Antilles national team was succeeded by the Curaçao national football team and remained thus a CFU, CONCACAF and FIFA member, while Aruba was already a FIFA and CONCACAF member after registering their own association and leaving the Netherlands Antilles team in 1986. Sint Maarten was also already an independent member of CONCACAF. Before Bonaire was a member of the CFU or CONCACAF, they competed in the ABCS Tournament, a competition between the Dutch-speaking teams of the Caribbean (Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, and Suriname), since its inception in 2010 and were surprise champions in 2011. Bonaire assembled a squad for a match on 28 February 2010 for a friendly against Curaçao, months before the Netherlands Antilles was dissolved. The match ended in a 4–0 victory for Curaçao. Bonaire's first match after the Netherlands Antilles was dissolved was an eventual 2–4 defeat to Suriname in the 2010 ABCS Tournament on 29 October 2010,19 days after the islands gained their new status in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

On 19 April 2013, Bonaire was accepted as an associate member of CONCACAF at CONCACAF's XXVIII Ordinary Congress held in Panama City, Panama, a process that took two years. The membership process was delayed when Bonaire's applications to join CONCACAF and the CFU went missing after being sent to president Jack Warner. Around the same time that Bonaire was named an associate member of CONCACAF, it was named a full member of the Caribbean Football Union as the subconfederation's 31st member. Previously, Bonaire was a provisional member before submitting the final paperwork and adjusting the federation's statutes to meet CFU requirements. Bonaire became a full member of CONCACAF at the confederation's next Ordinary Congress on 10 June 2014 in São Paulo, Brazil.

Although Bonaire is not a member, national team player Lacey Pauletta has expressed his desire that Bonaire becomes a FIFA member in the future. FIFA statutes allow only associations of internationally recognised independent countries to become members, as well as entities "which [have] not yet gained independence" provided the "association in the country on which it is dependent" authorizes membership. The requirements of independence or "gaining independence" did not apply to 17 out of the 18 members of FIFA that are not fully independent states, including all 10 Caribbean members, as they entered before the rules were changed. Although the KNVB supports the BFF with training courses, infrastructure, and with goal projects, no express authorization of such a move for Bonaire is reported. Any association seeking affiliation to FIFA must observe FIFA's further regulations related to the subject. In a 2007 independent report on the sports facilities of the BES islands, Bonaire's facilities were described as adequate in number but "substandard" and "hardly maintained", potentially providing a further hurdle to FIFA membership because of the governing body's lengthy stadium recommendations and requirements which include, "...surrounding a football field with a running track in a modern stadium should be avoided" as part of its stance against multi-purpose stadiums. In 2008, FIFA and the KNVB began a Goal Project on Bonaire, creating two full-sized and one small-sized football pitch with accommodation facilities. An extension of the existing facilities was also part of the project. Goal Projects are part of the Goal Programme which has enabled beneficiary member associations to implement projects designed to develop football in their countries.

It had been announced that Bonaire would host the 2013 ABCS tournament. However, because of financial difficulties, it was later announced that Curaçao would host the tournament between 16 and 18 November. After initially stating that they would not take part in the tournament at all, Bonaire later announced that they would compete in the tournament. Bonaire went on to play their first match after joining CONCACAF in the tournament, a 0–2 loss to Suriname on 14 November 2013. The tournament, in which they finished in 3rd place, also saw them record their first victory after joining, a 2–1 victory over Aruba on 16 November 2013, and score their first goal after joining, a 74th-minute strike from Ilfred Piar in the same match.

On 1 June 2014, Bonaire played their first match in a CONCACAF competition, a 2–1 victory over the US Virgin Islands during the preliminary round of 2014 Caribbean Cup qualification. Two days later, Bonaire held Montserrat to a scoreless draw to top their group and advance to face Martinique, Barbados, and Suriname in the second round of qualification. On 10 June 2014, only a few days after their success in the preliminary round of 2014 Caribbean Cup qualification, Bonaire became a full member of CONCACAF. After posting one win and two losses in the next round of qualifying, Bonaire was eliminated from their maiden Caribbean Cup qualifying campaign as Barbados and Martinique advanced from the group. Bonaire came close to qualifying for the next round of qualifying by being the top third place team but were topped by the Dominican Republic who had a superior goal difference of +8 to −8.

In March 2018 it was announced that FFB president Ludwig Balentin met with FIFA president Gianni Infantino to begin the process of gaining FIFA membership. As part of the new agreement, which was supported and facilitated by the KNVB, Bonaire would be invited to future FIFA conferences. Only a few days later, it was announced that Bonaire would take part in the inaugural edition of the CONCACAF Nations League.

In September 2019, Bonaire's application for FIFA membership was denied. A year later, it was announced that the island's football federation was appealing the decision in the Court of Arbitration for Sport and that the proceedings had already begun. Ultimately the appeal was unsuccessful and the CIS ruled in favor of FIFA.

Stadium

Stadium Capacity City
Stadion Antonio Trenidat 1,500 Rincon
Municipal Stadium 3,000 Kralendijk

Bonaire historically played their home matches at the Municipal Stadium, currently named Digicel Kralendijk Stadium for sponsorship reasons, located in Kralendijk, Bonaire's main city. The stadium has a capacity of 3,000 spectators. In 2006, the cellular phone service provider Digicel donated USD $240,000 to the Bonaire Football Association which was, in part, used to renovate the national stadium. Artificial turf was installed at the stadium, along with the Stadion Antonio Trenidat in Rincon, in 2012 with financial assistance from FIFA and the Dutch KNVB.

Following renovations to bring it up to FIFA international standards, including installing new artificial turf and lighting, the Stadion Antonio Trenidat hosted the first-ever official match of the Bonaire national team on home soil on 28 March 2023. The eventual 1–2 defeat to the Turks and Caicos closed out Bonaire's 2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League C campaign.

  • Kralendijk Stadium

    Kralendijk Municipal Stadium, Prior to Renovations

  • Kralendijk Stadium After Renovations (March 2014)

    Kralendijk Municipal Stadium, After Renovations (March 2014)

Kit

Bonaire's old kit provider is Dutch sportswear company Masita. Home kits are all yellow with blue piping on the jersey while the away kit is all white with blue piping on the jersey. Both jerseys include the flag of Bonaire on the left breast and the coat of arms of Bonaire on the right. Bonaire's current kit provider is Dutch sportwear company: Robey Sportwear

Results and fixtures

Main article: Bonaire national football team results

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

      Win       Draw       Loss       Fixture

2023

2024

Coaching staff

Name Nation Position
Rilove Janga Bonaire Head coach
Celsio Mook Bonaire Assistant coach
Alsi Anthony Bonaire Assistant coach
Arviena Vis Bonaire Assistant coach
Danielo Quirindoongo Bonaire Physical therapist
Ludwig Balentin Bonaire Delegate

Manager history

  • Bonaire Arturo Charles (2010–2012)
  • Bonaire Rudsel Sint Jago (2012–2014)
  • Bonaire Ferdinand Bernabela (2014–2015)
  • ArgentinaItaly Emmanuel Cristori (2017–2018)
  • Bonaire Robert Winklaar (2018)
  • Bonaire Alexandro Raphaela (2019)
  • Aruba Brian van den Bergh (2019–present)

Players

Current squad

  • The following players were called up for the 2024–25 CONCACAF Nations League matches.
  • Match dates: 14 November 2024
  • Opposition:  El Salvador
  • Caps and goals correct as of: 15 October 2024, after the match against  Montserrat
No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Hendrik Letteboer (1985-08-18) 18 August 1985 (age 39) 3 0 Bonaire Vitesse
1GK Sifmar Sint Jago (2006-01-12) 12 January 2006 (age 19) 0 0 Bonaire Real Rincon
2DF Berry Sonnenschein (1994-02-12) 12 February 1994 (age 31) 15 1 Bonaire Vitesse
2DF Richajier Oleana (2000-11-12) 12 November 2000 (age 24) 12 0 Bonaire Atlétiko Flamingo
2DF Marshelon Pourier (2002-12-06) 6 December 2002 (age 22) 10 1 Netherlands Hoogeveen
2DF Railey Martijn (1999-12-02) 2 December 1999 (age 25) 6 0 Netherlands TOGB
2DF Timothy Muller (2007-08-02) 2 August 2007 (age 17) 4 0 Netherlands Almere City
2DF Amir Winklaar (2006-02-21) 21 February 2006 (age 19) 4 0 Bonaire Real Rincon
3MF Adri Serberie (1991-10-31) 31 October 1991 (age 33) 15 0 Bonaire Estrellas
3MF Jort van der Sande (1996-01-25) 25 January 1996 (age 29) 7 1 Scotland Dundee United
3MF Sharenhyo Jimenez (2006-11-06) 6 November 2006 (age 18) 3 0 Netherlands Dordrecht
3MF Jarickson Saragoza (2004-02-02) 2 February 2004 (age 21) 2 0 Netherlands Winsum
3MF Jafet Vlijt (2008-01-04) 4 January 2008 (age 17) 3 0 Netherlands Spartaan '20
3MF Ninho Gerardo-Felicia (2006-12-14) 14 December 2006 (age 18) 2 0 Netherlands FC Dordrecht U19
4FW Ayrton Cicilia (2001-03-02) 2 March 2001 (age 24) 14 7 Bonaire Real Rincon
4FW Rowendley Martijn (1998-06-25) 25 June 1998 (age 26) 6 0 Netherlands SC Feijenoord
4FW Nathan van Arneman (1995-04-14) 14 April 1995 (age 30) 2 0 Bonaire Real Rincon

Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up within the last 12 months.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Denyor Cicilia (2007-03-29) 29 March 2007 (age 18) 7 0 Netherlands NEC v.  El Salvador, 8 September 2024
DF Ginel Ronde (2002-08-08) 8 August 2002 (age 22) 6 1 Italy Supergiovane Castelbuono v.  El Salvador, 8 September 2024
DF Ezekiel Frans (2003-11-22) 22 November 2003 (age 21) 1 0 Netherlands ASWH v.  Sint Maarten, 4 June 2024
DF Rigolino Stakenburg (2006-07-06) 6 July 2006 (age 18) 1 0 Netherlands SC 't Zand v.  El Salvador, 20 March 2024
DF Chris Isenia (1993-10-29) 29 October 1993 (age 31) 18 2 Bonaire Vespo v.  Saint Martin, 21 November 2023
MF Jonathan Libiana (2001-05-08) 8 May 2001 (age 24) 16 2 Bonaire Real Rincon v. El Salvador, 8 September 2024
MF Jurneth Clara (2002-08-06) 6 August 2002 (age 22) 5 0 Bonaire Uruguay v.  El Salvador, 8 September 2024
MF Dangemir Cicilia (2003-08-23) 23 August 2003 (age 21) 1 0 Bonaire Atlétiko Flamingo v.  El Salvador, 8 September 2024
MF Daymerick Casper (2000-11-08) 8 November 2000 (age 24) 1 0 Bonaire Young Boys v.  El Salvador, 8 September 2024
MF Milan Blanken (2007-05-30) 30 May 2007 (age 18) 1 0 Bonaire Uruguay v.  El Salvador, 8 September 2024
MF Shandrick Scherptong (2005-12-16) 16 December 2005 (age 19) 1 0 Netherlands Oranje Wit v.  Sint Maarten, 4 June 2024
MF Yurick Seinpaal (1995-11-12) 12 November 1995 (age 29) 21 6 Bonaire Atlétiko Flamingo v.  El Salvador, 20 March 2024
FW Quincy Hoeve (2003-04-03) 3 April 2003 (age 22) 8 2 Netherlands Volendam v.  El Salvador, 8 September 2024
FW Mervin Dishmey 2 0 Bonaire Uruguay v.  El Salvador, 8 September 2024
FW Jeffry Puriel (2002-11-16) 16 November 2002 (age 22) 1 0 Netherlands Almere City v.  El Salvador, 8 September 2024
FW Gio-Renys Felicia (2004-02-02) 2 February 2004 (age 21) 2 1 Netherlands VVV-Venlo v.  Sint Maarten, 4 June 2024
FW Elionard Janga (2002-07-09) 9 July 2002 (age 22) 1 0 Bonaire Vespo v.  Sint Maarten, 4 June 2024
FW Tyron Martis 1 0 v.  Sint Maarten, 4 June 2024
FW Matthew Muller (2003-06-16) 16 June 2003 (age 21) 1 0 Netherlands Zeeburgia v.  Sint Maarten, 4 June 2024
FW Fabio Hierck (1997-04-15) 15 April 1997 (age 28) 6 0 Bonaire Real Rincon v.  El Salvador, 20 March 2024

Player records

Main article: List of Bonaire international footballers
Players in bold are still active with Bonaire.

Most appearances

Rank Name Caps Goals Career
1 Yurick Seinpaal 21 6 2013–present
2 Berry Sonnenschein 15 1 2018–present
Robert Frans 15 0 2015–2023
Rishison Frans 15 0 2015–2023
Adri Serberie 15 0 2019-Present
6 Igmard Gijbertha 14 0 2013–2019
Rilove Janga 14 1 2013–2019
Jonathan Libiana 14 2 2022–present
Ayrton Cicilia 14 7 2018-Present
10 Lacey Pauletta 13 1 2013–2019

Top goalscorers

Rank Name Goals Caps Ratio Career
1 Ayrton Cicilia 7 14 0.5 2018–present
2 Yurick Seinpaal 6 21 0.29 2013–present
3 Suehendley Barzey 3 7 0.43 2013–2015
4 Thierry Anthony 2 2 1 2023–present
Kenny Kunst 2 2 1 2011
Edshel Martha 2 4 0.5 2018–2019
Jermaine Windster 2 8 0.25 2018–present
Ilfred Piar 2 8 0.25 2013–2019
Guillermo Montero 2 9 0.22 2014–present
Jonathan Libiana 2 14 0.14 2022–present
Jurven Koffy 2 12 0.17 2018–present

Competitive record

Key

      Champion       Runners-up       3rd Place

**Red border color indicates the tournament was held at home.

CONCACAF Gold Cup

CONCACAF Championship & CONCACAF Gold Cup record Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
El Salvador 1963 Part of  Netherlands Antilles Part of  Netherlands Antilles
Guatemala 1965
Honduras 1967
Costa Rica 1969
Trinidad and Tobago 1971
Haiti 1973
Mexico 1977
Honduras 1981
1985
1989
United States 1991
Mexico United States 1993
United States 1996
United States 1998
United States 2000
United States 2002
Mexico United States 2003
United States 2005
United States 2007
United States 2009
United States 2011 Not a CONCACAF member Not a CONCACAF member
United States 2013
Canada United States 2015 Did not qualify 5 2 1 2 6 13
United States 2017 Did not enter Did not enter
Costa Rica Jamaica United States 2019 Did not qualify 4 1 0 3 3 14
United States 2021 4 2 1 1 10 8
Canada United States 2023 6 3 1 2 12 11
Total – 0/27 0 0 0 0 0 0 19 8 3 8 31 46

CONCACAF Nations League

CONCACAF Nations League record
League Finals
Season Division Group Pld W D* L GF GA P/R Finals Results Pld W D L GF GA Squad
2019–20 C B 4 2 1 1 10 8 Same position United States 2021 Ineligible
2022–23 C A 6 3 1 2 12 11 Same position United States 2023
2023–24 C A 4 2 0 2 6 6 Rise United States 2024
2024–25 B A 6 1 1 4 4 8 Same position United States 2025
2026–27 B To be determined United States 2027
Total — — 20 8 3 9 32 33 — Total 0 Titles — — — — — — —

Caribbean Cup

Caribbean Cup record Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
Barbados 1989 to Antigua and Barbuda 2012 Not a CFU member Not a CFU member
Jamaica 2014 Did not qualify 5 2 1 2 6 13
Martinique 2017 Did not enter Did not enter
Total - 0/19 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 2 1 2 6 13

ABCS Tournament

ABCS Tournament record
Year Result Pld W D* L GF GA
Curaçao 2010 Fourth place 2 0 1 1 5 7
Suriname 2011 Champions 2 1 1 0 5 3
Aruba 2012 Fourth place 2 0 0 2 2 17
Curaçao 2013 Third place 2 1 0 1 2 3
Suriname 2015 Fourth place 2 0 0 2 1 7
Curaçao 2021 Runners-up 2 1 0 1 4 4
Curaçao 2022 Fourth place 2 0 0 2 1 5
Total 1 title 14 3 2 9 20 46
*Draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.

Head-to-head record

As of 14 November 2024, includes matches after CONCACAF acceptance

Against Played Won Drawn Lost GF GA GD
 Anguilla 2 2 0 0 5 0 +5
 Aruba 1 1 0 0 2 1 +1
 Bahamas 2 0 1 1 2 3 –1
 Barbados 1 0 0 1 1 4 −3
 British Virgin Islands 3 3 0 0 10 6 +4
 Curaçao 2 0 0 2 1 5 −4
 Dominican Republic 1 0 0 1 0 5 −5
 El Salvador 3 0 1 2 2 4 –2
 Jamaica 1 0 0 1 0 6 −6
 Martinique 1 0 0 1 0 6 −6
 Montserrat 3 1 1 1 1 1 0
 Saint Martin 2 0 0 2 1 6 -5
 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2 0 1 1 2 3 −1
 Sint Maarten 2 0 1 1 3 8 –5
 Suriname 3 1 0 2 3 7 −4
 Turks and Caicos Islands 2 1 0 1 5 3 +2
 U.S. Virgin Islands 1 1 0 0 2 1 +1
Total 32 10 5 17 40 69 −29

See also

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