WILLEMSTAD (DA) — Curaçao Football Federation president Gilbert Martina said new national team head coach Fred Rutten is expanding the program’s support staff with a set-piece coach and a fitness coach, with the focus on getting players to what Martina described as a “110%” fitness level ahead of the FIFA World Cup in June.
Martina said Rutten wants to see players at that “110%” standard as Curaçao builds toward the tournament, putting fitness and match readiness at the center of the months-long ramp-up.
With several Curaçao players currently on the bench with their clubs, Martina said Rutten will also bring in a fitness coach tasked with working directly with players’ clubs and putting them on special programs designed to help players reach that target.
Martina said Curaçao’s 26-player squad for the upcoming FIFA Series is scheduled to be announced on March 6. He added that the federation also expects to announce the fourth friendly opponent for June 6 on the same date.