WILLEMSTAD (DA) — The Curaçao Football Federation (FFK) has appointed Gersley S. Gijsbertha as its new technical director, putting him in charge of shaping and executing the federation’s technical pathway in line with its 2025-2030 strategic plan.
FFK said Gijsbertha began the role in April.
The appointment gives the federation a local football figure with academic credentials, management experience and deep ties to the game on the island.
Gijsbertha holds a Master of Science degree from TU Delft and has worked for the past 19 years as a senior management adviser at the Ministry of Economic Development, where he built broad experience in international project management and financial processes.
His football background also runs through Curaçao’s national team structure. FFK said Gijsbertha played for every national youth side from the U-13 level through the senior team, giving him a strong understanding of player development within the national setup.
His international qualifications include completing the FIFA Standard Course for Technical Directors. He is also certified as a coach educator by Concacaf and the Royal Dutch Football Association, known by its Dutch acronym KNVB.
FFK said he also served as an assistant national team coach during multiple World Cup qualifying campaigns, experience that positions him to connect international standards with local ambitions.
Jan Peter Dogge, FFK’s general secretary, and president Gilbert Martina welcomed the appointment and said Gijsbertha has the knowledge, skills and mindset to carry out the technical director role under the federation’s long-term development plan.
In his first reaction to the appointment, Gijsbertha said he sees the job as part of a broader mission for the sport in Curaçao.
“Football is the engine of our community,” Gijsbertha said. “With my experience in international organizations and major government projects, combined with my role as a coach educator, we will build a bridge between local ambition and international standards. We are not only going to play football, we are going to build an institution that all of Curaçao can be proud of.”