FormerAjaxandNetherlandsgoalkeeperStanleyMenzohastakenchargeofSuriname,thecountry wherehewasborn,andhashighhopesofturningthemintoa CONCACAFpowerhouse“Giants in
the making?
Sure,why not?”
Thismustbe as closetoa dream
jobas anyonecan get,going
backto whereyou were born
andtaking chargeofthenationalteam?
Itwas alwaysmydreamtogivesomething
backfor my homecountry. I didthatwith other
peoplewhen I played fortheSuriprofs[ateam
ofplayersofSurinamese originthatplaysan
annualcharitymatch]but,yes,tobecoach
ofthe national teamisa dream.It’scloseto
10 0 percentofwhatI wanttoachieve.
Isthere addedpressurebecause
youareone of therealstarsof
Surinamesefootball?
Yes,theexpectationishigh,becausewe
canuseforeign-basedplayersnow thatthe
nationalitylawshavechanged.Andof course,
withmy reputationasa playerandasa coach,
peopleexpectmetodothejobthatthey
wanttosee,andIcanunderstandthat.
Suriname is a countrythatneedssome
success,especially in soccer. Economically
theyneedsuccess,butinsoccer, they are
waitingforsuccess.Wehavea great
opportunitybecausewecanuseplayers
fromtheNetherlands.They cangeta second
passportandnow play forSuriname.Soyes,
there arebigexpectationsbutwe have to be
realistic.Andthat’swhatI trytotellthemthat
itwill take timetoevolvefromplayingand
thinkingatanamateurlevel to becoming
reallyprofessional.Wewillneedpatience.Suriname’sfortuneshavealreadychanged
withtheinclusionofDutch-bornplayers
nowabletoclaim doublenationality, but
aretheremanystillwaitinginthewings?
Yes,there area lotmoreplayerswith
Suriname roots.Theonlythingisthatthey
havetomake a decisiontochooseSuriname.
BeforethatI can’tselectthem. Most of the
Dutch playersbetween 20 and 3 5 still hope
toplayfor theDutch nationalteam.They don’t
wanttomake thechangeyet.Thenyouhave
playersbetween 25 and 30 whohaveother
thingsthatkeepthemfrommakingthe
nationalityswitch.Forme,it’sa challenge
toget themtorealisethatwehavea
greatopportunitytowritehistory.
But,atthe end, they have to makethe
choice.Andtheyoungerplayersfeellessof
a connectionwith Suriname,thosewhoare
third generation,whosegrandparentscame
fromSurinamebutwhoseparentswerealso
bornin theNetherlands.Theyare reluctant
aswell.Butwhenyoulookat thenumber
ofplayerswhoqualifytoplayforboth
theNetherlandsandSuriname,thenyou
realisethe greatpotentialthatwehave.Youmusthavethenspentplentyoftime
alreadyjust tryingto recruitplayers?
Yes.Wehavea managementbureauinthe
Netherlandsrecruitingplayers.I’malsotrying
torecruit,makingphonecalls,talkingwith
players.That’s whyI say:‘It’suptothem;they
havetomake a choice’.Andalotofthemsay
theyarenotreadytochooseyet.Ofcourse,
Suriname is nothighlyrankedandstillin
thetransitionfromamateurtobecoming
professional.Thatalsocreatessome
doubtamongtheplayers.Ifyou cangetthemajorityofthe players
whoareeligibletocome andplay, do
youthinkSurinameis a sleepinggiant?
Yes,butthe thingis,wehavea bigopponent,
andwe’renotthe best nationalteaminour
region.Rather, it allstartswiththe organisation
infederation,where there hastobea change
tothinkingprofessionally. Thereareplayers
whoare playinginthePremierLeagueand
inthe Bundesliga andtheywon’tcometo
playforSurinameifthingsarenotproperly
organised.The bigchallengeis howcanwe
findsomethingtochangetheirmindssothat
theychoosefor Suriname? Theprospect
ofplayinga WorldCup?But there’salot
todotoget anywhere nearthere.But
giantsin themaking?Sure,whynot?