The red card for Richonell Margaret in the 63rd minute of the match would ultimately be the deciding factor. Natio capitulated in the 96th minute after a fantastic shot from Matthew Evans, to which Etienne Vaessen had no answer. The question can be asked whether the behavior of Natio’s number 9 was amateurish. After all, as a player you know what the consequences can be if you respond to provocations from the public.
Text and image Desney Romeo
Coach Henk Fraser responded as follows to the events of the evening: “You know that you have to play a controlled match. You know that a point is enough, but you also want to win. I think you exaggerated a bit, you didn’t have many opportunities to do so, but we didn’t really get into any problems. Then it’s a shame that you concede such a goal.
“This just has to stop in football”
We were in a good position in the match, without creating too many opportunities. But sometimes you also have to learn to play these kinds of matches. To be honest, I thought we did a very good job until the red card. And then you are still waiting for a goal, because they still had to get to the phase where they had to play scared. The rooms became much larger. That’s what we were waiting for. And then you ruin it yourself by getting a red card.”
Fraser acknowledged that a top athlete should not respond to provocations, but also showed understanding for the emotions of his players. According to him, the sounds from the stands referred to something that no longer belongs on a football field or in society. “As a top athlete you are not allowed to react. We are all human and we understand that it can sometimes be too much. But a player of mine is never allowed to react to the public. There are rules for that.”
According to Fraser, it is important that stronger action is taken against such behavior. At the same time, he emphasized that Natio must also look at itself. “We shouldn’t react. But sometimes it is very difficult to be above that. Unfortunately, today it partly costs us the match.”
Despite the red card, Natio managed to hold on reasonably well with ten men. “But then that one moment comes and he hits it fantastically.”
Fraser indicated that some players apologized to him afterwards. He is waiting to see what steps FIFA and Concacaf will take in response to the events.
Liam van Gelderen, who again played a strong match, reacted with disappointment to the elimination. “It is very frustrating. If you look at the way in which Margaret is treated racist and he responds to it, he should of course not do that. But it is a reason that he responds. This must simply stop in football.”
According to Van Gelderen, monkey noises and other racist gestures could be heard from the stands throughout the match. He also strongly criticized the referee, who immediately gave Margaret a red card.
“When I see how the referee reacts, I find it completely amateurish. He immediately gives a red card and doesn’t even ask what happened. He didn’t see it at all.”
The elimination hit the defender hard. “It was like the world collapsed for me. He shot it nicely in the intersection, but when you have fought for so long, longer than 90 minutes, it hurts.”
Despite the elimination, Van Gelderen looks back on this period with a positive feeling. According to him, the selection has made progress as a team, despite the many changes within the group.
“As a team, I think we did well and that we stayed together. However, we did not have much influence on this last match, if you look at the red card.”
The defender also pointed out the many changes within the selection. “If you look at what the selection was like before, how many boys did not come and how many boys joined, they also did very well. Respect for the boys. We are only making progress.”
‘We deserve much more than what we got’
Captain Myenty Abena spoke after a very disappointing evening. According to him, given the circumstances, Suriname deserved more than the result it ultimately got. “You are treated racist during the entire match and our player reacts very unhappily to it. I understand those emotions, but ultimately that determines the entire match.”
Abena indicated that he had also discussed the matter with the referee. According to him, there was no adequate response to the provocations from the stands, while Margaret immediately received a red card after his response.
Despite the disappointment, the captain expressed his appreciation for his teammates. “That does not alter the fact that I respect my team very much for what they have shown. We have shown character, despite the circumstances. We have fought throughout the period.”
According to Abena, Natio has once again shown with its performance that Suriname can compete with other countries. “We have put Surinamese football back on the map. Other countries are afraid of us and they will remain so, because we show good football.”
The captain acknowledged that elimination is a bitter pill, but called on his teammates and Surinamese society to look ahead. “It is a bitter pill to swallow now, but we will have to go through it as a team and as individuals. In the next period we have to pick ourselves up again and shine for the Surinamese team and the Surinamese people.”
Abena thanked the Surinamese public for the support and love the team received during the campaign. “You make us happy with the support you give. Keep doing that. This is the only way we will always continue to contribute to the development and put Surinamese football on the map.”
Suriname next to qualify on goal difference
Suriname finished in third place in group B with seven points. The most frustrating thing is that both number one Guatemala and number two Jamaica also achieved seven points. Based on a better goal difference, both countries advanced, while Suriname was eliminated.
Suriname will have another chance to qualify for the Gold Cup in March 2027. The country then takes part in the preliminary round, in which fourteen countries compete for seven places for the final tournament. A negative moment after the match was the brawl that ensued. Goalkeeper Etienne Vaessen played a prominent role.
