Quick Facts
Biography
Humphrey Mijnals (born December 21, 1930) is a former footballer who played international football for both Netherlands and Suriname.
Career
Mijnals' first professional international football activities were in Brazil for six months with América Futebol Clube (PE). After this he returned to Suriname. Following his transfer in 1956 to USV Elinkwijk, he received a signing-on fee of $ 15,000 while his club received a transfer fee of 3000 guilders. The club contracted more Surinamese footballers, collectively known as the "five-leaf clover".
He debuted in the Dutch football team on April 3, 1960 in a home match against Bulgaria. Mijnals, nicknamed Minna, is best known for clearing a Bulgarian attempt on goal with an overhead kick.
In total, Mijnals played just three matches for the Netherlands, including a match against Suriname, because he came into conflict with the KNVB. The conflict arose after a training trip to South and Central America; he complained about the game and selection policy to a journalist, which resulted in him being placed on the list of unwanted players by the association.
Then he played 45 times in the Suriname national football team and with the Surinamese football club S.V. Robinhood he was four times champion. In 1999, he was elected Surinamese footballer of the century. On 24 August 2008, Mijnals also received Sports Medal of the city of Utrecht.
