The national U15 football selection of Suriname will participate in the from 24 to 30 October FIFA U15 World Cup & Festivalwhich is being held for the first time. In Baku, Azerbaijan there are 196 participating countries, including Suriname, which is in group B with Argentina, Algeria, Oman, Malawi and Taiwan. “This is an important moment for the boys,” says national coach Orfeo Brondenstein the True Time. “Ultimately, I hope that all my players can show what they can do at the tournament and that there is talent in Suriname.”
Text and image Desney Romeo
The format during this tournament is different than normal. Teams compete against each other in eight-on-eight formations in matches of 2×20 minutes. It is planned to organize a similar tournament for girls in 2027, with both competitions to be held annually from 2028.
According to Arsene Wenger, Fifa Chief of Global Football Development, there is talent everywhere, but young players are not always given the same opportunities to compete internationally. This tournament is all about giving them that opportunity. “By bringing together teams from all over the world at U15 level, we can give players valuable matches, expose them to different playing styles and football cultures and help them learn and develop through competition,” he explained on Fifa’s website about what is envisaged by this new tournament.
Keep Suriname high
Fifa U15 World Cup & Festival describes Brondenstein as “a very nice measuring moment”. “These types of tournaments should be organized more often. This is the only way you can see where you stand. You also get the opportunity to play against other, stronger countries from other confederations and the Concacaf. There you can see what you have to work on, which means that you have to make a plan to be able to handle this level with local boys after a number of years. This is also an important moment for the boys.”
Emilvio Vorswijk, who has been playing football for seven years – he started at Adonai before switching to Robinhood – says the True Time that being able to represent Suriname at such a prestigious tournament means a lot to him. “I hope I can make Natio proud.”
Vorswijk, who represents Suriname for the second time at an international tournament, plays as a right back. He does not see it as a problem that Argentina, among others, is in the same group as Suriname. “We are going to play football and uphold Suriname, that is the most important thing for us,” he sounds brave.
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Preparation
Brondenstein started the preparations on Tuesday. In this phase, work will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The national coach is focusing on the build-up for the time being. “Because the game is played eight against eight, which means adapting. We are now working on the build-up to teach the boys certain principles to ensure they make a good turn there.”
From October, Friday will be added as a training day. “And I also try to schedule practice matches in between, so that we can pick up the match rhythm, especially for the boys who have not been in action for a long time. For those who have only just returned from the U14 tournament, that is not really a problem.”
The selection will leave Suriname on October 18 and travel to Baku via the Netherlands and Turkey. The twelve field players and two goalkeepers are already known, because the names had to be submitted this week for the application for visas for the Netherlands and Turkey. Selected are Prefor Amoko, Giam Sabajo, Emilvio Vorswijk, Jörgensio Fisher, Densroy Arichero, Jehudi Finisie, Jismaël Sallons, Dencio Pikintio, Jabon Austin, Kenneth Saiman, Idestino Bodjie, D-shairo Djoe, Kymani Kadosoe and Jurmelizo Forster.
The national coach says that it was “difficult” to put together the selection. Apart from the boys who recently played in the Dominican Republic, the rest lack competition rhythm. The youth competition concluded more than two months ago. In addition, the age category also played a role. “There are few boys in the 14-15 year category that I can select, as the competition has not yet started. I therefore looked at the previous U15 selections to see which boys were still available. I also selected four from the U14 selection.” Fifa requires that players be born in 2011 and 2012.
Forecast
With six countries in group B, Suriname will certainly play five group matches. This is followed by a winners or losers pool. “Our aim is to reach the winners pool,” Brondenstein makes clear. “What is certain is that we will do our utmost to finish within the top three.” Suriname will play one match on the first day and then two matches on the second day. After a day of rest, the remaining two group matches will take place on the next match day.
African countries are known to be physically strong. Asked how Suriname is preparing for the confrontations with the African countries Algeria and Malawi, Brondenstein answers as follows: “They say: ‘he who is not strong must be smart’. So technically we have to be better and act faster. On the other hand, you also prepare the boys physically, but I focus more on the technical aspects in this case.”
