André Kamperveen: the tragic legend of Suriname

The small South American country of Suriname has a deep historical connection to the Netherlands and Dutch football. André Kamperveen was his first player to make the trip overseas, and his success has spurred generations of similar migrant journeys. But his life is emblematic of the horrors of military dictatorship as much as it shows the beauty of an independent nation with a passion for sport.

On November 25, 1975, Suriname became an independent nation, relinquishing its former status as a constituent country of the Kingdom From the Netherlands. During the turbulent years following the transition, the idea of ​​self-sufficiency and proving that there was no need for others or barriers to self-sufficiency was a guiding philosophy of the nation. The repercussions of this idea continue to this day, with dual nationality not allowed and only the complicated structure of a sports passport, introduced in 2019, allowing Dutch players of Surinamese descent to represent the national team. Surinamese. Large waves of emigration from Suriname to the Netherlands began at the time of independence, but the years under the military dictatorship in the 1980s also prompted many people to flee the country, especially following the December murders and the ensuing Homeland War.< /p>

André "Ampie" Kamperveen was a multi-sport player and international sports administrator who also worked in journalism and the media. He was involved in politics, holding a ministerial position for a short time. Ampie was loved and respected: a country boy who had achieved success not only because of his talent and athletic skills, but also because of his grades in the classroom (academic success being an essential part of being well seen in much of of the region), all without any shortcuts. or legs up. This is best exemplified by the many people who turned out for his funeral, despite the potential repercussions of being seen at a ceremony for someone who had been summarily executed by the military government.

Kamperveen was one of fifteen men, critics of the military government, shot dead at Fort Zeelandia in Paramaribo in December 1982 in the events known as the December killings. He was one of the most well-known victims and his many contributions in a plethora of fields were directly linked to his being targeted.

Soccer was certainly both his best sport and the one in which he made his greatest contributions. A...