Curacao’s team doctor, Dr. Suzanne Huurman, has defended allowing players to spend time with their partners and even engage in s£xual activity before FIFA World Cup matches after Dutch coach Dick Advocaat allowed them to stay with their partners in their hotel in Florida.
Explanning the decision, Curacao team doctor Suzanne Huurman said while players are able to share their living quarters with a roommate or their families, sex and family time have helped the Curacao team settle into life away from home, with intimacy recommended for emotional support.
‘Players can stay with their teammates in the same room and, when there are children, the family receives an additional room,’ Huurman said.
‘It’s something quite unique in national team football. Curacao is a small country, with a very cheerful, warm and family-oriented people, something that reminds me a lot of Brazil.
‘Yes, I believe s£x helps, but perhaps more on the emotional side than for a direct physiological effect.
‘In such a long tournament, having the family around reduces homesickness a little and brings tranquillity.
‘Many of our players do not play at the highest levels of world football. For many families, it would be too expensive to travel and stay for weeks in the United States on their own.
‘The federation decided to assume this cost so that the players can have their partners and children nearby. Some would probably be worried or stressed.’
Curacao have taken one point from their opening two matches, drawing 0-0 with Ecuador before suffering a bruising 7-1 defeat to Germany.