New boss Ten Cate vows to lead Suriname to World Cup glory

PARAMARIBO, Suriname (CMC):

The dream of a first-ever World Cup finals appearance for Suriname remains alive, but the path has grown more perilous.

After a stunning collapse in their final qualifying group, the national team, affectionately known as 'Natio', must now navigate a high-stakes play-off route, and they will do so under a new, high-profile head coach, Henk Ten Cate.

The optimism in Suriname was palpable just months ago. A resounding 4-0 victory over El Salvador in November had Natio on the brink of automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup in North America.

However, dreams turned to despair with a 3-1 defeat to Guatemala, coupled with Panama's 3-0 win over El Salvador.

That result saw Panama snatch top spot in the group, condemning Suriname to a second-place finish and the uncertainty of the intercontinental play-offs.

The immediate fallout saw the resignation of manager Stanley Menzo. In response, the Surinamese Football Association (SVB) moved decisively, announcing an agreement on December 14 with the experienced Dutch coach Henk Ten Cate, tasking him with securing the nation's World Cup ticket.

Ten Cate, whose distinguished resume includes head coaching roles at Ajax and assistant positions at European giants FC Barcelona and Chelsea, has assembled a formidable support staff.

He has been joined by former Netherlands internationals Winston Bogarde, as an assistant ,and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who brings experience from managing in England and coaching with the English national team.

In his official unveiling to the Surinamese press on Monday, Ten Cate left no room for doubt about his mission.

"I am very honoured to be taking on this job. I only accepted because I am convinced Suriname will qualify for the World Cup. We're going to make it. That should be everyone's goal."

Acknowledging the significant logistical hurdles, Ten Cate outlined his immediate plan. With the crucial first play-off match against Bolivia in Monterrey, Mexico, on March 26, and the squad dispersed across global leagues, there is no time for a pre-camp.

"I'll have to do it with personal phone calls and Zoom meetings with the squad of about 30 players," he explained.

Preparation is already under way, focusing on opponent analysis, travel, and accommodations. However, the team will not arrive in Monterrey until March 22 or 23, leaving just a few days to acclimatise and train together.

"That's a disadvantage, but we have so much quality that we have to get the job done."

Ten Cate's strategy is clear: instil belief and focus on Suriname's own strengths. "We're going to focus on our own quality, not that of the opponent. Our quality should be sufficient. My message is one of positivity, and that should carry us through to the World Cup."