Suriname: South America’s World Cup Wildcard

A country more commonly defined by its vast, vibrant rainforests and colonial architecture; the former Dutch colony nestled in the north of South America are laying the foundations for football to thrive. The capital city of Paramaribo, lying on the Suriname River a few miles from its mouth where it flows into the Atlantic Ocean, is a bustling, rural metropolis evoking much of its Dutch ancestry. Only a gentle northerly walk from the city’s heart, the towering, ancient floodlights of the André Kamperveen Stadium emerge as if one has stepped into the set of War of the Worlds. Their bright beams shining down on a football team where talk of positivity and success are beginning to echo around the globe.

Despite being located on the shoulder of South America, the smallest such independent country of its continent, the Dutch speaking nation instead competes in CONCACAF, alongside its bordering neighbours of Guyana and French Guiana. Although somewhat peculiar, it should not act as a hinderance as they strive for a place in the World Cup. It is not so much to do with a sudden ‘golden generation’ of Surinamese talent, rather that of something a little more unconventional. Journey back to November, 2019, as much of the world plummeted into darkness, it was a productive time for the Surinamese Football Association. A new form of passport introduced would now allow Dutch professional footballers from the Surinamese diaspora to represent the nation.

Suriname has been the birthplace of some of the most accomplished, most adept Dutch footballers - Edgar Davids, Clarence Seedorf, Aron Winter, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink - yet, due to their ties with their European counterpart, they instead played for the Netherlands, proving that Suriname owed a great deal to the prolonged Dutch success of the 80s and 90s. Today, the situation back in the Americas is one of promise. Of course, those born in Suriname today who excel in the sport can still choose to play across the Atlantic but, what it does permit, is the skilled few of those unable to break into the Dutch national side. The answer? A squad comprised of players from some of Europe’s top divisions.

Not that you are overly likely to have heard of many, if any, of this sudden wave of Surinamese talent. Between the sticks you will find the captain, Warner Hahn, reserve ‘keeper for Belgian giants, Anderlecht. In front of him is the ageless sensation of Ryan Donk, once a member of a West Brom side who finished bottom of the Premier League some 12 years ago. Not his greatest highlight, as he has since established himself as Galatasaray’s main centre half. Damil Dankerlui, too, has been a consistent member on the right-side of a Groningen defence that has conceded the fifth-fewest number of goals this campaign as they currently sit sixth in the Eredivisie, their highest league position for ten years. Someone a little closer to home is Florian Jozefzoon, a frontman now at Rotherham but who has enjoyed success at PSV and more recently Brentford, did too make the recent switch to play for Suriname.

You get the gist. These are not, by any means, the greatest talent that Europe has to offer but, once thrown into the same team, they are at a level which should have success. Success, indeed, that is already starting to take shape. The quest for a place in the 2022 World Cup for the tropical nation began four days ago in Paramaribo, as Suriname cruised to a 3-0 victory over the visiting Cayman Islands. If the first result was perfection, the second was perfection personified as a recent trip to the ABC Islands saw the mainlanders put six past Aruba. In a group comprised of five teams, only one must advance to the next stage of qualifying. What stands as Suriname’s largest threat is not quite Bermuda, but Canada. With a journey to the Atlantic island booked for June 4th, the final fixture with land giants Canada will likely be a ‘winner takes all’ type scenario. Home to prolific Besiktas forward, Cyle Larin, and arguably the world’s most exciting left-back in Alphonso Davies, it certainly will not be the most straightforward of tasks but, with the opening batch of fixtures underway, Suriname have made the finest start.

Perhaps unlucky to have been drawn in the same group as Canada, it remains the fledgling period for much of a squad who have played so few games together. Much of this replenished squad had yet to play an international match which, after eyeing up their recent results, shows a fiery element of potential and promise that runs rife through the squad and the nation. For a country of which around 47% of its inhabitants live below the poverty line, sparking success in the form of a much-watched sport brings pride to any nation, as its future shines bright. Their hope of securing a World Cup spot remains to be seen for a number of months but, with fresh talent secured for a lifetime, the years that follow are undeniably worthy of your attention.