Paramaribo, Suriname - In the Netherlands today depending on if you talk to an erudite “De Natio” football observer or casual fan, they will tell you around 250,000 to 400,000 Suriname migrants live in the nation that has participated in three FIFA World Cup finals and won the 1988 European Championship.
Of those migrants many of the great black Netherlands players of the last 40 years such as Frank Rijkaard, Ruud Gullit, Clarence Seedorf, Patrick Kluivert, Jimmy Floyd-Hasslebaink namely, were either born in Suriname or born in the Netherlands to Surinamese parents. Therefore in an alternative universe these notable players and possibly many more might have played for the former Dutch colony, if dual nationality between Suriname and Holland existed.
As DIRECTV W Connection battled hard in front of a capacity crowd at the Andre Kamperveen Stadium (the record for a senior men’s team fixture in the South American nation since the 1970s) to an exciting 90 minute 1-1 draw on Friday, before winning on penalties – the European based Suriname XI played with the intensity of an official international.
“I was very impressed with how the players stood up against this team,” W Connection head coach Stuart Charles-Fevrier told wconnectionfc.com. “Regularly I stress to my players, our competition at W Connection is not just the Pro League clubs – but the world.”
It was the first of two friendly fixtures against Suriname, boosted with European talent, with the second and final fixture against “De Natio” on Sunday at the same venue.
Charles-Fevrier continued, “The contest these European players presented was a step up for every player and I hope they appreciate why we push them so hard in training, since they got a very good taste of what high level competitive football could be like.”
In the aforementioned capacity crowd that produced an atmosphere that the players don’t ever experience in the domestic league and hardly ever at international fixtures for their respective Caribbean Islands – the “Savonnetta Boys” were forced to defend manfully at the beginning as “De Natio” came out of the blocks at full speed.
Having the surnames of famous Netherlands players, of particular threat in the opening proceedings were striker Nigel Hasselbaink and left-winger Genaro Snijders from Greece first and Netherlands second division teams Veria FC and FC Oss respectively. Mid-fielder Nicandro Breeveld from Romania first-division champions Steaua Bucuresti, received regular applause from the crowd for his excellent passing range to the attackers.
The pace and trickery of Sneijder severely tested the defensive acumen of Alvin Jones at right back, who did more defending in this game than in the opening six games of the 2014/15 Pro League campaign, while Hasselbaink’s strength and intelligent movement had the central defensive duo of Mekeil Williams and Joel Russell on red alert.
At one point in the 20th minute, Connection were pinned down in the 18-yard box for five consecutive corners, but a combination of resolute team defending, brave goal-keeping from Julani Archibald and lackluster finishing from the Surinamese – prevented them from taking an early lead.
However, totally against the run of play Connection would silence the crowd with the opening goal, when Hashim Arcia and Devaughn Elliot combined to steal the ball in mid-field and release Jerrel Britto to score in the 26th minute.
The sting was immediately taken out of the game via that goal, but before the interval both teams flubbed excellent scoring chances.
Connection striker Keon Boucher getting his first start received a perfect pass from Neil Benjamin Jr and with just the keeper to beat he failed to connect his shot. Suriname counter-attacked immediately and the final ball into the box to the unmarked Hasselbaink was clipped over the bar by the striker as the local crowd groaned in anguish.
“De Natio” got their opening goal on the hour mark when substitute central defender Norichio Nieveld got a free header via a Furgill Lie A Kwie corner kick, as the Connection defenders napped.
As the final half hour petered out it became an interesting tactical battle with the hosts going hard for a winner and the “Savonetta Boys” trying to catch them on the counter attack.
These two philosophies produced many positive attacks from both teams and all the bookings for the game. So profound was the Surinamese aggression that both Benjamin Jr and left-back Triston Hodge were substituted with dead legs. In Benjamin Jr’s injury case, the referee shockingly did not give an obvious red card to goal-keeper Rodney Ubbergen as he fouled Benjamin Jr outside the box.
“Winning or losing on penalties is not that important in my view, the 90 minutes was more important to me and I’m very proud of them, certainly I learned a lot about their character in this match,” stated Charles-Fevrier.
From a Trinidad and Tobago football perspective, “Project Suriname” is one to pay close attention to. Once their government approves dual-nationality with Holland and allows the proliferation of Suriname born/heritage players to return, on paper they conceivably can become one of the better teams in the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) when qualifying for the 2018 World Cup commences next year.
Regulation time score
Suriname XI (Norichio Nieveld 60’) vs DIRECTV W Connection (Jerrel Britto 26’)
Kicks from the penalty mark
Suriname 2
Milano Koenders (missed)
Nicando Breeveld (score)
Nigel Hasslebaink (score)
Stefano Rijssel (missed)
Furgill Lie A Kwie (missed)
DIRECTV W Connection 3
Alvin Jones (score)
Mekeil Williams (missed)
Hashim Arcia (score)
Tremain Paul (score)
Teams:
Suriname XI: 1.Rodney Ubbergen (Yellow Card); 2.Milano Koenders (Captain), 3.Serginho Greene, 4.Ryan Koolwijk (15.Norichio Nieveld 49th), 5.Donovan Slijngard, 6.Lorenzo Davids, 7.Furgill Lie A Kwie (Stefano Rijssel 62nd), 8.Boy Duel, 9.Nigel Hasselbaink, 10.Nicandro Breevveld, 11.Genaro Snijders
Unused substitutes: 12.Jonathan Waterburg, 13.Ludcino Marengo, 16.Ray Franke, 17.Akim Meusa, 18.Da Silva Davi, l, 19.Cristopher Hall, 20.Cendrino Misidjan
Coach/Trainer: Dean Gorre
DIRECTV W Connection FC: 18.Julani Archibald; 36.Triston Hodge (16.Anslem Jackson 68th) (Yellow Card), 5.Mekeil Williams (Captain), 19.Leslie Russell, 39.Alvin Jones (Yellow Card); 11.Tremain Shayn Paul, 13.Devaughn Elliot; 12.Jerrel Britto, 65.Neil Benjamin Jr. (10.Dimitri Apai 87th), 14.Hashim Arcia; 23.Keon Boucher (30. Aaquil Campbell 64th).
Unused substitutes: 22.Aquelius Sylvester (GK), 1.Terrance Lewis, 37.Shirlo Johnson
Technical Director/Head Coach: Stuart Charles Fevrier
Referee: Johannes Dolaine