Jort van der Sande: Playing with a future Olympic hero, windsurfing in paradise and his ultimate Dundee United faux pas
Van der Sande, 28, moved to the tiny Caribbean municipality of the Netherlands with his family at the age of three, joining its 24,000 permanent residents.While the United forward prides himself on a tireless work ethic, Bonaire is characterised by its laid-back inhabitants.
He smiles: “They say “poco poco”, which means “easy easy”. If you are 20 minutes late, that’s no problem. It’s hot every day there, you can’t rush!”
Its crystal waters and white, sandy beaches are manna from heaven for American tourists, with Bonaire’s scuba diving considered world leading. Steps are being taken to preserve the natural beauty of the area.
Some of the best windsurfers in the sport have also trained there, including 2020 Olympic champion Kiran Badloe.
“I used to play football with him (Badloe) in the local neighbourhood,” added van der Sande. “Was he good? Honestly, no! But his father was my coach.”
Capped three times for Bonaire against Sint Maarten (twice) and Anguilla, he continued: “It is an island that is still deep rooted in my heart. I grew up there and it has always been a part of my life. There is a lot of pride when I play for them.
“Because it’s a part of my childhood, it’s a big thing for me. It’s always a bit difficult for me to explain where I come from, and it’s not that I will brag about it, but it always comes to mind as a talking point for people.
While van der Sande’s adventures in Bonaire have been circuitous and exotic, his domestic football career has – until now – been restricted to the second tier in the Netherlands.
He boasts a fine scoring record with the likes of FC Den Bosch, FC Eindhoven and ADO den Haag but always harboured a desire to try his luck abroad. That opportunity came this summer as United made their move.
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