Jong-A-Pin's Chinese connection

Should Calvin Jong-A-Pin be picked for the Netherlands squad to play in the Olympics next summer, there is an outside chance he might bump into an ancestor or two on his father's side.

'Chinese blood'
Jong-A-Pin was born in Amsterdam of Surinamese descent, but his links with the Asian country go back a long way. "Five or six generations ago, Chinese traders came to Surinam to run plantations and there is Chinese blood in me, although I have never been there," Jong-A-Pin said. "But it would be funny to run into somebody there with the same name as me."

Left-footers
Jong-A-Pin was little known before this tournament, but is quickly forging a reputation as a rock solid left-back. Playing behind the dynamic Royston Drenthe he has established himself in the side since starting the opener against Israel on the substitutes' bench. Not bad for a 20-year-old who has only played nine matches for SC Heerenveen. "Against Portugal our defence was solid as a rock, and that is good to build on when you want to attack. It doesn't seem very Dutch to play without wing backs, but that is modern football, show strength and win duels. It is very nice to play with Drenthe ahead of me. He is always available to receive the ball, without worrying he will lose it and he has great moves the fans really enjoy."

Final target
The pair have played a large part in the Netherlands reaching the semi-finals and qualifying for the Olympic football for the first time since 1952. "It's a good achievement, but I didn't celebrate too much," Jong-A-Pin said. "We have reached one goal, but shouldn't think too much about that. Reaching the semi-finals means you want to get to the final. It's hard to tell who'd suit us best in semis. On paper England and Italy are very strong, but then again on paper we're weaker than Portugal and we still beat them. First though we have to play our final group match against Belgium."

De Haan greeting
The Jong Oranje tackle Belgium at the Abe Lenstra where Jong-A-Pin first met his national coach Foppe de Haan last summer. "I was sitting in an armchair when Foppe passed by. He asked me what I was doing there, and I said I had come to sign my Heerenveen contract. 'At such a young age?' he asked, thinking I was just a kid because I was sitting down. But when I stood up, he could see I wasn't as small as he thought I was." The defender smiled, thinking of something else De Haan does not yet know. "I have a degree in physical education just like him, but I haven't told him so I can secretly get some tips from him."