Reigning Digicel Pro League (DPL) champions DIRECTV W Connection completed a Suriname tour undefeated against a Suriname XI and that country’s top club Inter Moengotapoe over the weekend.
Connection, currently second on the DPL standings, edged Suriname XI – equipped with European born players with Suriname heritage – 3-2 on penalties on Friday following a 1-1 draw in which forward Jerrel Britto scored in the 26th minute before “De Natio”’s defender Norichio Nieveld equalised in the 59th minute.
Connection, led by head coach Stuart Charles-Fevrier, completed the tour on Saturday with a 2-1 win over Surinamese league champions Inter Moengotapoe before returning to Trinidad on Sunday.
Hashim Arcia and Surinamese attacker Dimitrie Apai each scored for the “Savonnetta Boys’ who will return to domestic DPL action in January.
Friday’s fixture was part of the Surinamese Voetbal Bond (SVB)’s “Project Suriname” campaign towards qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
The SVB has already submitted a proposal to the Suriname Government that will be voted on in 2015, seeking to allow dual nationality to Suriname-born or Suriname heritage professional footballers in the Netherlands and Europe who are unable to make the grade for the Netherlands Senior Team but would be willing to represent the South American nation.
Hence the inclusion of 14 European players with Surinamese heritage included in Friday’s 20-man squad coached Suriname-born former Ajax footballer Dean Gorre.
Meanwhile Connection’s squad on tour included goalkeepers Julani Archibald, Terrence Lewis and Aquelius Sylvester; Triston Hodge, Anslem Jackson, Mekeil Williams, Leslie Russell, Alvin Jones, Tremain Shayn Paul, Devaughn Elliot, Jerrel Britto, Neil Benjamin Jr., Dimitri Apai, Hashim Arcia, Keon Boucher, Aaquil Campbell and Shirlo Johnson.