Robert Maaskant Confirms Zero Salary for Tuvalu National Team Post
Robert Maaskant revealed during his official presentation in Roosendaal that he will receive no salary for his role as head coach of the Tuvalu national football team, according to Voetbal International. The 57-year-old coach addressed widespread public assumptions about his financial compensation by clarifying that his position with the Pacific island nation carries no pay, with only travel and expense reimbursement covered.
Public reaction following his appointment last month often leaned toward financial motivations, with many acquaintances assuming he would be paid for the role. Heel veel kennissen van mij zeggen: Hij zal het wel voor de poen doen
, Maaskant explained during the press conference. He quickly dismissed those notions with a laugh, noting that he does not receive a single penny beyond a reimbursement for expenses incurred during travel.
The Appeal of a Remote Pacific Football Project
Despite the lack of a salary, Maaskant did not hesitate when approached last summer by Michiel van der Werf, the technical director of the Tuvalu Islands Football Association (TIFA). Familiar with the story of former Tuvalu coach Foppe de Haan, Maaskant embraced the opportunity to experience a unique global venture through sport.
NOS reported that the initiative spans over a decade, tracing back to a 2011 mission by Limburg football fan Paul Driessen. For Maaskant, the decision also stems from personal timing: he said he now had a free hand to pursue unconventional coaching assignments abroad that combine travel with meaningful social engagement.
Balancing Sport and Climate Advocacy on the Islands
Beyond the touchline, Maaskant’s role carries significant diplomatic weight regarding the severe environmental challenges facing the archipelago. Tuvalu remains acutely threatened by rising sea levels driven by climate change, a crisis that the coach believes transcends traditional athletics. Dat verhaal overstijgt natuurlijk de sport.
Maaskant stated, adding that football can help draw attention to the threat of rising oceans.
Elaborating on his broader responsibilities, NOS noted that Maaskant plans to attend an international climate summit in Antalya, Turkey. There, he intends to highlight the existential risks posed to low-lying Pacific nations by melting polar ice caps, framing the assignment as both a coaching job and an advocacy platform.
Building a Coaching Staff and Targeting FIFA Recognition
On the sporting front, Maaskant has assembled a diverse technical staff to prepare the squad. Ten-time Netherlands international Kew Jaliens joins the project as an assistant coach, alongside Dutch staff member Thijs Matla and Tuvaluan assistants Nabil Alefaio and Pasene Siale. Maaskant told during his presentation that the appointment generated massive interest, with about sixty people expressing interest in a team manager role and 54 in a press officer role.
The team faces shoestring conditions. Maaskant outlined plans to travel to Auckland in January to meet the team ahead of a four-nation tournament scheduled for March in New Zealand, where Tuvalu will face Kiribati, Tonga, and the Cook Islands.
Pathways to Regional Integration and Global Standing
Long-term ambitions center on securing full membership within the Oceania football federation (OFC) and eventually gaining affiliation with FIFA within a three-year window. Maaskant noted that achieving full OFC status would multiply current subsidies tenfold.
In addition to environmental advocacy, health initiatives form a secondary priority for the coaching staff. NOS highlighted that imported food has contributed to obesity problems across the Pacific region, making sport an important tool for improving public health outcomes.
Maaskant has signed an initial twelve-month agreement with TIFA, leaving open the possibility of a longer tenure as the federation works toward international recognition and competitive fixtures.
