Time is running out for Natio: ‘We are actually still waiting for the government’ – the True Time

Text and image Desney Romeo

Less than three weeks before the first Concacaf Nations League match on September 25 against Honduras, it is not yet certain which formation the national football selection of Suriname will play. The first selection of national coach Henk Fraser should be known in about a week. Asked about the status quo of the diaspora players at the moment, Natio general manager Brian Tevreden does not mince words: “We are actually still waiting for the government. There was a meeting last week and it will continue on Monday. Hopefully we will get positive news from them,” he said. the True Time.

Satisfied refers to the internal meeting of the National Assembly (DNA) in which the draft law on the further amendment of the Surinamese and Residency Act of 24 November 1975 took place. The substantive discussion should then have taken place in a public meeting on the same day – Thursday.

However, in a press release on Thursday evening, DNA announced that it had been postponed until Monday because the initiators had submitted “additional insights and points of interest regarding the bill” to parliament. In addition, the initiators have announced that they will submit an amendment to the bill. To give the rest of Parliament the opportunity to further study the announced amendment and the additional points of interest, the discussion of the bill was postponed to today (Monday).

Different scenarios

Confronted with what will happen if the law is not completed, Satisfied answers that other scenarios are being taken into account. “But we still hope that things will work out.” National coach Fraser expresses himself in an almost identical way. “I assume that it will happen, but in this profession you learn that you always have to prepare for other options or impossibilities and of course I did that. I did my homework to put together a selection from the Surinamese competition,” he hints.

Following up on this, the national coach is pointed out that the composition of a selection consisting of local players will not be easy, because the new season has not yet started. Only champion Broki, who is participating in the 2026 Concacaf Caribbean Cup, has matches in his legs. “As a trainer you are always looking for an ideal picture and that is not the case now. The competition does not start until October 11, so a number of boys really need training. That is also a fact that we have to take into account.”

For Suriname want come true

Asked whether there are a group of footballers in the diaspora who – if the law is not completed – could possibly play normally for Suriname, Tevreden answers in the affirmative. “They still have a Surinamese passport general manager makes it clear that the “entire consternation” arose in the Netherlands, while players in other competitions have not encountered any problems. “I also want to be very clear: no government has indicated that the boys have lost their Dutch citizenship! That is why we are very careful about this. In general, anyone can play, as they all have a Surinamese passport.”

Fraser agrees that he has been in contact with a number of players. “It’s just complicated when there is still uncertainty. That is the reality. All the boys I got to know in the earlier period – he was an assistant under national coach Stanley Menzo, … ed. – want to represent Suriname. Nothing has changed, but the clarity is what everyone is waiting for, which I understand.”

When the national coach is asked how difficult it is to prepare for the match against Honduras, not knowing exactly where he stands, he is clear: “Everyone at the SVB – and especially Brian – knows how I feel about it. I am someone who prepares well and that now has some effect. But that does not alter the fact that no matter what the circumstances are, I have to do my job and that is what I do. I prepare for all possible scenarios.” Despite everything, there is optimism. “I have a good feeling that everyone in the government is doing their very best to make it happen, because it just has to be right.”

Tevreden is not sure whether he will follow the DNA collection live, but he will be constantly on the phone with Suriname. “I have a good feeling that it will be completed and that we will have everyone available for the Fifa window.”