WILLEMSTAD (DA) — Nigel Thomas will join the Curaçao men’s national team on Friday for its CONCACAF Nations League campaign, according to coach Dick Advocaat.
Advocaat said Thomas is eager to play for Curaçao and plays regularly for ADO Den Haag. The coach added that his arrival will give the national team staff an opportunity to assess him more closely.
Thomas’ participation had been uncertain after an injury forced him off on a stretcher against SC Cambuur. His planned arrival does not yet confirm whether he will be available to play.
Curaçao faces Costa Rica away on Sept. 24 before hosting Nicaragua on Sept. 27. Thomas is scheduled to join between those matches.
The winger landed awkwardly following a tackle by Cambuur’s Devid Bouah before halftime and appeared to hurt his upper arm or shoulder. He could not continue and was replaced by Daryl van Mieghem.
ADO teammate Sekou Sylla subsequently confirmed that an ambulance arrived at WerkTalent Stadion, supporting Deporte Awe’s earlier report that one had been called. Sylla said players were not allowed into the room where Thomas had initially been taken.
“It looked serious,” Sylla said. “We heard something about a dislocated shoulder, but it could also be more serious.”
The precise nature and severity of the injury have not been officially confirmed. It also remains unconfirmed whether Thomas was taken to a hospital.
ADO drew 1-1 with Cambuur, with substitute Donát Bárány scoring the 75th-minute equalizer after Fabian Kvam had put the visitors ahead.