Tahith Chong left Curaçao aged eight to further his football education in Europe but the small Caribbean island has never left his heart. After playing for the Netherlands over various age groups, the talented winger has answered the call of legendary coach Dick Advocaat to represent the country of his birth.
The 25-year-old’s start to life at Curaçao could not have gone any better, coming off the bench in the goalless draw against Trinidad and Tobago before scoring two goals and bagging one assist in the 3-2 win over Bermuda. Thanks to the former Manchester United starlet’s efforts, the Blue Wave now sit second in Group B behind Jamaica, whom they face in a crunch FIFA World Cup 26™ Concacaf qualifier next month.
Following his exploits in the September qualifiers, the Sheffield United star spoke to FIFA about growing up in Curaçao, his reasons for choosing to represent the country, playing in front of his 94-year-old grandma for the first time and what it would mean to reach next year’s global showpiece.
Tahith Chong: My dad was a big fan of (Youri Djorkaeff) when he played for Inter Milan so that’s where the name came from.
Great memories. All my family is there. I remember playing football when I was six (there) so I have very fond memories of there of course.
I used to go back every summer from the age of 15 or 16 to see family.
The idea was always there for years because that is ‘home’ home. Curaçao needed to fix some things in the organisation and I feel like they have made those steps over the years which is brilliant to see. I felt it was the right time now.
Speaking to the organisation, I feel like they have taken a step forward in terms of the players being looked after. Everything sorted out perfectly for the players, I think that is what has been lacking over the years. We’ve always been in contact, I’ve spoken to multiple managers and technical directors and now they have taken care of a number of things that is why the decision has come now.
It felt like home. I have a grandma who is turning 95 next month and she has only seen me on TV before so it was an opportunity for her to see me in person. I have loads of family who have the same story. And for me it felt like a homecoming because I played in the same stadium when I was six/seven so it’s really a full-circle moment for me.
We were very happy as a team to pick up the three points (against Bermuda) and we have two important games coming up in October.
I’ve just experienced him for the first time but he seems like a good manager, he looks after the players. He’s been brilliant on and off the pitch. I have only positive things to say about him. I don’t think Curaçao could have picked up the results over the past two years if he wasn’t doing a good job.
We’re taking it game by game. We have a really big game on 10 October (against Jamaica) and it’s going to be Curaçao Day, which is going to be nice as everyone is going to be off work and I think the whole island is coming to the stadium, which will be big for us. We need the support and at the end we’ll see where we are.
It would mean the world for everyone. For me, being from there and seeing how football has developed over the years, being able to get to the World Cup with Curaçao would be an amazing feeling.
Picture credits: Concacaf
