After finishing the group stage of The Fifa U-15 World Cup & Festival without points and having a rest day on Tuesday, the national U15 football selection of Suriname focuses on the remainder of the major tournament, which ends on October 30. Regardless of the results in the group stage, all teams continue to play until the last day. The meeting with Malta awaits Suriname on Wednesday.
Text Desney Romeo
Image privateecollection
Despite having lost all matches so far, national coach Orfeo Brondenstein sees progress. “In the group stage, our play has gotten better every match, but the goals were not forthcoming. The mistakes from day one also kept coming back, but I have seen positive things. It is a learning moment and there are things we have to work on when we get back,” he analyzes the True Time.
“The SVB also has homework. We need to work on more measuring moments. That can only make you better.”
U15 national coach Orfeo Brondenstein
Brondenstein mentions, among other things, the goalkeepers who need better guidance. “They have not had enough specific training in preparation,” he says. “The goalkeeper coach only came once a week. It won’t be easy anyway. How can I blame such a boy if he is not well prepared.”
The national coach, who had to participate in a special session with all other coaches on Tuesday, believes that the mental aspect should also be examined. According to him, it is desirable that a professional comes to guide the boys. “So the SVB also has homework. We also need to work on more measuring moments. That can only make you better.”
Last group matches
Given the performance, Suriname could certainly have achieved at least one point on the last day of the group stage. Even a victory could have been achieved in the final match.
Against Argentina, U15 Natio lost 0-3, but in the last match against Chinese Taipei the team had a chance to win. However, serious blunders by goalkeeper Jehudi Finisie did Suriname’s defeat.
After four minutes, Jurmelzio Forster U15 gave Natio a 1-0 lead from a well-taken free kick. Suriname played well collectively and had opportunities to increase the score through Jismaël Sallons and Forster, but the finishing left much to be desired. Due to haste, the balls went over the goal.
Shortly after halftime, Chinese Taipei leveled, after Finisie let an easy ball slip through in the 22nd minute. Not long afterwards it became 1-2, after the defense and Finisie watched a free kick, allowing an attacker to easily tap the ball.
It was clear that the enthusiasm in Suriname decreased afterwards. Chinese Taipei often appeared more dangerous and scored one more time: 1-3. In the final phase, U15 Natio tried to come back with the last of their strength. Sallons first hit the crossbar, but was able to score the tying goal in the 37th minute: 2-3. However, there was nothing more to it.
Defensive blunders
Asked about his findings after the last two matches, Brondenstein states that Argentina was clearly one size bigger than Suriname. “But we played daring football. We only fell behind due to two defensive blunders, while things were going well. The assignments were executed well, but if your goalkeeper doesn’t keep you in that game, it costs you motivation. You try to make substitutions to correct, but it didn’t work.”
According to the national coach, Argentina was aiming to score a lot of goals. “I therefore told the boys to cover briefly and not give them any opportunities to shoot and we succeeded quite well. We played against a country that has become world champions in all categories. We lost, but I was not dissatisfied with the 0-3. Plus if you can create chances against Argentina, that means things can be better.”
The strategy against Chinese Taipei was to play compactly and be very alert during the transition. “We had to punish their wrong passes. We got a good lead, then we had a chance to make it 2-0, but there was no communication and we missed the opportunity.”
Brondenstein believes he has reminded his players during half-time how important it is to make it 2-0. “And I also talk to our goalkeeper to punch away what he cannot keep with his fist. Unfortunately, what you fear happens and the opponent equalizes and within a short time we are behind. Loss of concentration in the defense then leads to the third goal.”
In the final phase, Brondenstein chose to increase the pressure and try to get the best out of it. “And the chances were there, but we only managed to score once. It was clear that we lacked the calm to take a good shot, which made the shots very poor.”
