OLDHAM Athletic’s Curacao internationals have had the perfect build-up to the Gold Cup. 

Winger Gevaro Nepomuceno and goalkeeper Zeus De La Paz helped the Dutch Caribbean island to victory in the King’s Cup in Thailand. 

Curacao beat India 3-1 in the semi-finals of the 47th annual tournament in Buriram. 

They then took the title on Saturday with a 5-4 penalty shoot-out win against Vietnam in the final, the game having ended 1-1 in normal time. 

Vietnam had seen off the hosts 1-0 in the other last-four contest. 

Nepomuceno started both of Curacao’s games with De La Paz watching on from the sidelines as PSV Eindhoven’s Eloy Room was preferred in goal. 

The side is captained by Everton defender Cuco Martina, the former Southampton man finishing last season on loan at Feyenoord.

Cardiff City midfielder Leandro Bacuna is another key man for Remko Bicentini’s side and scored in the victory over India. 

Attentions now turn to the Gold Cup with the Oldham duo part of the 23-man squad for the CONCACAF tournament in the United States of America, Costa Rica and Jamaica from this Saturday, June 15 to July 7. 

Curacao are in Group C and face El Salvador in Jamaica on June 18, Honduras in Houston on June 22 and Jamaica in Los Angeles on June 26. 

De La Paz, who has won two caps, looks likely to act as back-up but, with 36 caps and eight goals for his country, Nepomuceno is one of the more experienced members of the squad. 

He has become a key player for Latics since his arrival in September 2017. The 26-year-old made 48 appearances in all competitions last season, scoring six goals and chipping in with 10 assists. 

Nepomuceno signed a new one-year deal last month which takes him through to the end of next season.

He’s previously had spells with FC Den Bosch and  Fortuna Sittard in the Netherlands before playing for FC Petrolul Ploieti in Romania and Maritimo in Portugal. 

De La Paz is out of contract at Boundary Park having arrived on an 18-month deal in January 2018. 

He was described as “in negotiations” when the Latics announced their retained and released list at the end of the season. 

His future will likely be resolved after his international commitments with the keeper having played second fiddle to Leicester City loanee Daniel Iversen last season. 

The 24-year-old made just five appearances in all competitions, three in League Two and two in the Checkatrade Trophy. Iversen, who has returned to Leicester, is part of the Denmark squad for the European Under-21 Championship.