Interview: Curaçao Football Federation President Gilbert Martina
When Curaçao qualified for the World Cup, much of the global coverage focused on the football. On the island, however, the moment represented something deeper — a reflection of a long-term cultural and psychological shift that had been building for years.
Gilbert Martina, President of the Curaçao Football Federation and author of Healthy Minds, Healthy Nation, has been at the center of that transformation. Drawing from his background in healthcare and leadership, he has focused on how mindset, identity, and collective well-being shape not just teams, but entire communities.
In this conversation, he shares how Curaçao’s rise goes beyond sport, what visitors can experience on the island today, and how the same principles explored in his book are playing out in real time on a national stage.
Curaçao’s rise on the global stage has caught a lot of attention recently. From your perspective, what does this moment represent for the island beyond football?
Gilbert Martina: What’s happening right now is much bigger than football. For many people on the island, this moment represents a renewed sense of identity, confidence, and belief in what is possible. It reflects years of work not just on the field, but in how people see themselves and what they believe they can achieve together.
You’ve described this as a 25-year rebuild: a divine journey. What really changed during that time to make this success possible?
The biggest change was mindset: for the players a shift of playing for fun to play for result that was institutionalized by the head coach Dick Advocaat and for the Football Federation: structure, peace and governance. We shifted from thinking short-term to building something long-term and intentional. That meant investing in structure, discipline, and leadership, and creating a culture where people take ownership. It wasn’t one decision or one moment — it was a consistent approach over many years.
Many people think of sports success as talent-driven. How much of this story is really about mindset, culture, and leadership?
Talent is important, but it’s not enough: someone with great talent but without the proper mindset or discipline will not be successful. What really drives success is culture. It’s how people think, how they prepare, how they respond to pressure, and how they work together. Leadership plays a key role in shaping that environment and setting the standard over time.
How would you describe the sense of identity and pride on the island right now? Has that shifted in recent years?
There is a strong sense of pride right now: it’s visible. Even in the carnival parade, there was a great statue of the captain with the World Cup trophy in his hands. People feel connected to something bigger than themselves. You see it not just in football, but in how people talk about Curaçao and what it represents. That shift has been building over many years, and now it’s visible: a national transformation: this is nation-building at its best.
Curaçao has built a reputation as a welcoming and inclusive destination in the Caribbean. How would you describe the island’s culture today, particularly when it comes to diversity and the LGBTQ+ community?
Curaçao has always been a place where different cultures come together, and that openness is part of the island’s identity. People are generally welcoming and respectful, and that extends to visitors from all backgrounds, including the LGBTQ+ community. It’s something that continues to evolve, but the foundation is one of inclusivity and acceptance. This goes back all the way back in history.
For someone visiting Curaçao for the first time, what are a few experiences you would recommend that really capture the spirit of the island?
I always tell people to go beyond just the beaches. Spend time in local communities, explore the culture, talk to people, and experience the history of the island. The natural beauty is incredible, but what really makes Curaçao special is the people and the energy you feel when you’re there. The meaning of the name “Curaçao” is “La isla de la sanidad” or “the island of healing”.
Photos: Stephan van de Schootbrugge/Unsplash
Your book Healthy Minds, Healthy Nation explores many of these ideas around mindset, leadership, and collective well-being. How does the story of Curaçao reflect those themes?
In Healthy Minds, Healthy Nation, I explore how mindset and collective well-being shape outcomes not just at an individual level, but at a national level. The story of Curaçao reflects that. What you’re seeing now is the result of a deeper shift in how people think, lead, and work together over time. How not only individuals turn their wounds into sources of wisdom, but also how a nation can turn its wounds into sources of wisdom, which will strengthen both the individual and the nation.
Looking ahead, what do you hope this moment leads to for the next generation in Curaçao?
I hope it shows the next generation that where you come from doesn’t limit what you can achieve. With the right mindset, structure culture both on an individual basis and collective basis anything is possible. When we realize how we can turn our wounds into sources of wisdom and align our purpose with a greater purpose then the magic happens because we then start co-creating beauty with the universe and the invisible becomes visible and the impossible becomes possible.
About Gilbert Martina
Gilbert Martina is President of the Curaçao Football Federation and author of Healthy Minds, Healthy Nation. Based in Curaçao, he is a former healthcare executive who has spent decades in leadership roles focused on organizational transformation, cultural identity, and collective well-being. His work explores how mindset, leadership, and emotional health influence not only individuals but entire communities. In Healthy Minds, Healthy Nation, he examines how personal and collective mindsets can shape families, communities, and even national outcomes, drawing from his experience in both healthcare and sport. This project is supported by a grant from the Dutch Foundation for Literature as part of its Regulation Literature Caribe initiative, recognizing work on transgenerational trauma and mental health in Caribbean societies.
Healthy Minds, Healthy Nation is available on Amazon and at GilbertMartina.com. Follow Gilbert on Instagram or connect via LinkedIn.
Explore the Blue Wave here. Make a trip to Curaçao today. Browse and book here.
