by Mantas Aliukonis
When Sherwin Seedorf signed for FK Banga this July, it raised eyebrows across the Lithuanian football community. The 27-year-old winger and second striker, who holds both Dutch and Surinamese citizenship, arrived with pedigree and ambition. Within weeks he had already made an impression in the A Lyga, scoring three goals in his first seven matches. He also marked his debut on the European stage, featuring in both legs of Banga’s UEFA Conference League tie against Norwegian giants Rosenborg Trondheim. The matches ended brutally, with the Lithuanians suffering a 0–7 aggregate defeat to the 2022 Eliteserien champions, but for Seedorf, the very act of playing continental football again was a step in the right direction. Much of the spotlight inevitably falls on his surname. Sherwin is the nephew of Clarence Seedorf, the former Netherlands international and AC Milan midfielder, the only player to have lifted the UEFA Champions League with three different clubs—Ajax, Real Madrid and twice with Milan. Yet Sherwin is determined to carve out his own path.
Seedorf looks back fondly on a childhood that was energetic and full of sport. “I had a good childhood. I was an active child—always outside with a football in my hand, and if it wasn’t a football it was a basketball,” he recalls. “My mum had me when she was just 16, so it wasn’t easy, but my grandmothers and my father were there to support. I started football at five, scored a lot because I was fast, and soon joined Feyenoord Rotterdam. I spent seven years there, learning the basics. I’m grateful for that foundation to this day.”
Family links to Clarence Seedorf are inevitable, but Sherwin is candid. “My connection with Clarence isn’t great—we don’t speak. My family is very big. Of course, we know of each other, but we’re just doing our own things. I have the utmost respect for what he’s done for Suriname and for football. He’s won trophies at big clubs, he’s a legend.”
His senior career began in England with Bradford City, where he debuted in League One at the age of 19. Stints in several countries followed, but the offer from Banga felt like the right opportunity. “The reason I came to Lithuania is because coach David Afonso gave me a really good feeling about the way the club is set up. For me it was a no-brainer to come here and get my career back up, playing games again,” he explains. The road has not always been smooth. Early in his career, his experiences with agents were mixed. “The first agent I had was fine when I was doing well. But after my injury, during Covid-19, everything went downhill. He didn’t text me or find me anything. Luckily, two friends—Michael Randall and Igor—helped me through those times. I don’t call them agents, they’re family for what they did for me.”
Superstitions also play a role in his matchday routine. “I always put on my left boot first, tie it, and then move to the right,” he says. His shirt number in Banga is 14, a number he never previously sought out but one that carries iconic weight. “It was free, and of course the legend Johan Cruyff wore it—so it felt good to take it.” Seedorf’s career has already given him a taste of football’s highs and lows. He remembers a hostile away trip in Cyprus vividly. “We played AEL Limassol and their diehard fans were behind our bench—spitting, shouting names you don’t want to know. It was crazy, something you don’t want to experience again.” At the other end of the spectrum, he treasures the simple appreciation from supporters. “When fans ask for an autograph or a picture, it feels nice to be appreciated. I don’t see myself as a footballer, I see myself as an athlete—but that connection shows you’re doing something good on the pitch.”
With just seven games under his belt in the A Lyga, Seedorf is cautious in judging the league. “I can’t say too much because I haven’t been here long. I just want to enjoy my football, help the team and help the players.” Still, he knows what the league needs: visibility and professionalism. For now, though, his focus is personal consistency—“to enjoy my football as much as possible.” Asked about the then-upcoming Lithuania vs Netherlands international, Seedorf was blunt: “I expect Holland to win, of course. They’re the stronger side. But it will be a great experience for the Lithuanian players. My teammate Vaidas Magdušauskas deserves to play and show what he can do. He understands the game and what I want as a winger—it’s always good to have someone like that next to you.” As for what the Dutch press were predicting? “I don’t really read the press from Holland, so I don’t know. I think they’ll play with a strong squad to prepare themselves.”
Seedorf insists he is more athlete than celebrity, focused on hard work and improvement. Asked about gear, he doesn’t hesitate: “My favourite brand is Nike and always has been.” For now, though, Lithuania offers him the one thing he needs most: a platform to play regularly and build momentum. “I want to get my career back on track,” he says simply, “and playing in Lithuania gives me that chance.”
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