Text and image Desney Romeo
BAKOE — The Surinamese U15 selection today failed to gain points during the World Cup & Festival, which will be played in Baku, Azerbaijan. In the early match, Suriname lost 5-0 to Algeria, after the team was already trailing 4-0 at halftime. It was striking that Natio showed better football against the Algerians.
In the second half we even saw some well-designed attacks and shots on the opponent’s goal. That was not the case in the first match against Oman. However, Algeria would score again in the very last minute of the match, ensuring that Suriname was still without points after two matches.
“We simply have to recognize our superiors. We try to present good football, but we are unable to maintain that. So we have work to do.”
In the afternoon match, which was played in Baku at half past seven in the evening, Suriname performed very well. There was clear progress in the way they played against Malawi. Orfeo Berenstein’s team clearly controlled the match, with the lines fitting together well. This gave the opponent no or only minimal opportunities.
After twelve minutes of play, D-Shairo Djoe had the best chance, but his shot went wide. In the eighteenth minute, a wide pass on the Malawi side was well intercepted by Jismael Sallons. The number 11 then shot on goal from the edge of the penalty area, with goalkeeper Prince Santos having no chance: 1-0 for Suriname. This score remained unchanged until half time.
In the second half, Malawi pressed more and the team was able to get back into the match due to blunders in the Surinamese defense. After losing the ball in defense the score became 1-1 after 26 minutes of play. In the 34th minute it was another loss of ball in the Surinamese defense that gave Malawi the opportunity to take the lead.
With five minutes to go it even became 3-1, after the ball was not sufficiently cleared in the defense and Malawi was able to score again. The balance after three games played is three defeats and no points. That was not what trainer Brondenstein expected. “We know that Algeria is a size bigger than our team, but we dared to play football. In the beginning we managed to play compactly and close off our midfield. However, they defeated us through the flanks. Algeria was simply better,” said Brondenstein.
Brondenstein: “The match against Malawi was one that we had taken over. The assignments simply had to be carried out properly: no balls just passed through the center. Due to loss of ball, they scored twice in a row and turned their deficit into a lead. Then you start to catch up. But if I look at the game pattern of a large part of the match, we should have beaten Malawi.”
According to Brondenstein, the fact that the team fell back in efficiency in the final phase against Malawi is because the team is not mentally strong. This was also visible in the goals conceded. The players hung their heads. “Even though I kept shouting on the sidelines to tell them not to hang their heads, it didn’t yield any results. After their third goal, the game was over.”
According to Brondenstein, these types of tournaments also show how far Suriname is technically and tactically. “I wouldn’t say disappointed, because I did not lose to small countries, but to countries that are further along than Suriname in terms of structure and organization. We just have to recognize our superiority. We try to present good football, but we are unable to maintain that. So we have work to do.”
The trainers believe that the players need to work more on themselves when it comes to playing football on a large or small field. “You can recover on a large field, but in small spaces we are still slow to act.”
Two more matches are scheduled for Monday, namely against Argentina and Chinese Taipei. “We will certainly approach both matches with a positive attitude and try to get three points from those two matches. It is important for our confidence in the further course of the tournament that we do not remain without points after five matches. We have now scored our first goal. Now we are going for our first point or points,” said Brondenstein.
