Category sport-news

Mykhailo Mudryk, a winger for Chelsea, has been accused by the English Football Association of breaking anti-doping laws after failing a drug test.

Mudryk hasn’t played for Chelsea since November 28 as a result of his FA’s provisional suspension for a “disadverse finding in a routine urine test” in December.

The Ukrainian international at the time claimed to be “complete shock” and had never knowingly used prohibited substances.

However, according to FA regulations, Mudryk could be subject to a potential four-year ban.

An FA statement on Wednesday confirmed that the 24-year-old had been accused of anti-doping rule violations involving the use of a prohibited substance, according to regulations three and four of the FA’s anti-doping laws.

We are unable to comment further at this time because this case is ongoing.

READ ALSO: Chelsea defeats LAFC in the first-ever club world cup match of a subpar crowd.

According to reports, Mudryk, who was signed from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023, had the prohibited performance-enhancing substance meldonium in his positive test.

Chelsea, who had been anticipating the results of the “B” sample test to support or refute the initial “A” results, launched their own investigation into the doping allegation last year.

Cole Palmer received Mudryk’s number 10 shirt earlier this month, leaving the Ukrainian international at Stamford Bridge without a squad number.

Shortly after he had left for work abroad with Ukraine in November, he received a positive result.

When asked to explain the four-game suspension he was missing from the team prior to the suspension being made public, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca initially said the winger was ill.

Mudryk was a unused substitute for Chelsea’s 3-0 Premier League victory over Aston Villa on December 1st.

His inconsistent performance patterns have plagued his time at Chelsea, which are only occasionally offset by his own flashes of ability.

Mudryk has made just 10 goals in 73 Blues appearances overall.

On Friday, August 15, Liverpool will begin their Premier League title defense at home against Bournemouth, while Arsenal will face Manchester United in a blockbuster first-sight international match.

Arne Slot’s champions have the chance to secure the first points of the new season at Anfield as they launch the 2025/26 campaign, bidding for a record 21st English top-flight crown.

Liverpool have difficult matches at home and at Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, which have finished second in the previous three seasons, following the Bournemouth game.

Thomas Frank’s first match as Tottenham boss will come on August 16 at home against newly promoted Burnley, while Sunderland make their return to the Premier League against West Ham.

READ MORE: Dortmund Held By Fluminense At Club World Cup

The third newcomers, Leeds, play Everton on Monday, August 18.

Manchester City, who finished last season with no wins, will be desperate to start their season off right against Wolves at Molineux.

Everton fans will have to wait until the second round of fixtures for their first league game at their new Hill Dickinson Stadium, when they will face Brighton.

In Slot’s first season in charge, Liverpool won the Premier League by winning a record-equalling 20th title with four games to go.

They have already strengthened their squad.

Florian Wirtz and his Bayer Leverkusen teammate Jeremie Frimpong have signed a club-record deal, which is said to be worth up to £116 million ($156 million).

A deal for Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez is understood to be well-advanced.

Manchester United will be desperate to get off to a great start with a home game against Arsenal on August 17. Ruben Amorim’s team has been given a tough test.

United finished 15th in the league, their lowest position since they were relegated in the 1973/74 season, and lost in the Europa League final against Tottenham.

With the addition of Matheus Cunha from Wolves, Amorim has begun a squad rebuild.

The season consists of 380 games over 33 weekends and five midweek rounds. On May 24, Manchester City and Aston Villa will play in the final games.

The Premier League said the start date “allows for the maximum player rest time available –- 83 clear days –- from the end of the 2024/25 season”.

On June 11, 2026, the World Cup will take place in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

Matchweek 1

Friday, August 15
20: 00 Liverpool v AFC Bournemouth (Sky Sports)

Saturday, August 16
12: 30 Aston Villa v Newcastle United (TNT Sports)
Fulham vs. Brighton & Hove Albion
Nottingham Forest v Brentford
West Ham United vs. Sunderland
Tottenham Hotspur v Burnley
Manchester City vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers at home on September 30 (Sky Sports).

Sunday 17 August&nbsp,
Chelsea vs. Crystal Palace (Sky Sports) 00:
16: 30 Manchester United v Arsenal (Sky Sports)

Monday, August 18th.
20: 00 Leeds United v Everton (Sky Sports)

MW2 Saturday, August 23rd,
AFC Bournemouth v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Leeds United vs. Arsenal
Brentford v Aston Villa
Sunderland vs. Burnley
Crystal Palace v Nottingham Forest
Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Everton and Hove Albion
Fulham v Manchester United
Tottenham Hotspur vs. Manchester City
Newcastle United v Liverpool
Chelsea vs. West Ham United

MW3 Saturday 30 August&nbsp,
Crystal Palace vs. Aston Villa
Brighton &amp, Hove Albion v Manchester City
Fulham vs. Chelsea
Leeds United v Newcastle United
Arsenal vs. Liverpool
Manchester United v Burnley
West Ham United vs. Nottingham Forest
Sunderland v Brentford
AFC Bournemouth vs. Tottenham Hotspur
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Everton

MW4 Saturday, September 13th,
AFC Bournemouth v Brighton &amp, Hove Albion
Nottingham Forest vs. Arsenal
Brentford v Chelsea
Liverpool vs. Burnley
Crystal Palace v Sunderland
Everton vs. Villa
Fulham v Leeds United
Manchester United vs. Manchester City
Newcastle United v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Tottenham Hotspur vs. West Ham United

MW5 Saturday 20 September
Newcastle United vs. AFC Bournemouth
Arsenal v Manchester City
Tottenham Hotspur vs. Brighton & Hove Albion
Burnley v Nottingham Forest
Brentford vs. Fulham
Liverpool v Everton
Chelsea vs. Manchester United
Sunderland v Aston Villa
Crystal Palace vs. West Ham United
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Leeds United

MW6 Saturday, September 27
Aston Villa v Fulham
Manchester United vs. Brentford
Chelsea v Brighton &amp, Hove Albion
Liverpool vs. Crystal Palace
Everton v West Ham United
AFC Bournemouth vs. Leeds United
Manchester City v Burnley
Arsenal vs. Newcastle United
Nottingham Forest v Sunderland
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Tottenham Hotspur

MW7 Saturday 4 October
Fulham vs. AFC Bournemouth
Arsenal v West Ham United
Burnley vs. Aston Villa
Brentford v Manchester City
Chelsea vs. Liverpool
Everton v Crystal Palace
Tottenham Hotspur vs. Leeds United
Manchester United v Sunderland
Nottingham Forest vs. Newcastle United
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Brighton &amp, Hove Albion

MW8 Saturday, October 18th.
Brighton &amp, Hove Albion v Newcastle United
Leeds United vs. Burnley
Crystal Palace v AFC Bournemouth
Arsenal vs. Fulham
Liverpool v Manchester United
Everton vs. Manchester City
Nottingham Forest v Chelsea
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Sunderland
Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa
Brentford vs. West Ham United

MW9 Saturday 25 October
Nottingham Forest vs. AFC Bournemouth
Arsenal v Crystal Palace
Manchester City vs. Aston Villa
Brentford v Liverpool
Sunderland vs. Chelsea
Everton v Tottenham Hotspur
West Ham United vs. Leeds United
Manchester United v Brighton &amp, Hove Albion
Fulham vs. Newcastle United
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Burnley

MW10 Saturday, November 1
Brighton &amp, Hove Albion v Leeds United
Arsenal vs. Burnley
Crystal Palace v Brentford
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Fulham
Liverpool v Aston Villa
AFC Bournemouth vs. Manchester City
Nottingham Forest v Manchester United
Everton vs. Sunderland
Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea
Newcastle United vs. West Ham United

MW11 Saturday 8 November
AFC Bournemouth vs. Aston Villa
Brentford v Newcastle United
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Chelsea
Crystal Palace v Brighton &amp, Hove Albion
Fulham vs. Everton
Manchester City v Liverpool
Leeds United vs. Nottingham Forest
Sunderland v Arsenal
Manchester United vs. Tottenham Hotspur
West Ham United v Burnley

MW12 Saturday, November 22nd,
AFC Bournemouth v West Ham United
Tottenham Hotspur vs. Arsenal
Brighton &amp, Hove Albion v Brentford
Chelsea vs. Burnley
Fulham v Sunderland
Aston Villa vs. Leeds United
Liverpool v Nottingham Forest
Everton vs. Manchester United
Newcastle United v Manchester City
Crystal Palace vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers

MW13 Saturday 29 November
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Aston Villa
Brentford v Burnley
Arsenal vs. Chelsea
Crystal Palace v Manchester United
Everton vs. Newcastle United
Manchester City v Leeds United
Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Nottingham Forest
Sunderland v AFC Bournemouth
Fulham vs. Tottenham Hotspur
West Ham United v Liverpool

MW14 Wednesday, December 3rd,
AFC Bournemouth v Everton
Brentford vs. Arsenal
Brighton &amp, Hove Albion v Aston Villa
Crystal Palace vs. Burnley
Fulham v Manchester City
Chelsea vs. Leeds United
20: 00 Liverpool v Sunderland
West Ham United vs. Manchester United 20:00
Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur
Nottingham Forest vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers

MW15 Saturday 6 December&nbsp,
AFC Chelsea vs. Bournemouth
Aston Villa v Arsenal
West Ham United vs. Brighton & Hove Albion
Everton v Nottingham Forest
Crystal Palace vs. Fulham
Leeds United v Liverpool
Sunderland vs. Manchester City
Newcastle United v Burnley
Brentford vs. Tottenham Hotspur
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester United

MW16 Saturday, December 13th,
Arsenal v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Leeds United vs. Brentford
Burnley v Fulham
Everton vs. Chelsea
Crystal Palace v Manchester City
Brighton & Hove Albion face Liverpool at Hove Albion.
Manchester United v AFC Bournemouth
Tottenham Hotspur vs. Nottingham Forest
Sunderland v Newcastle United
Aston Villa vs. West Ham United

MW17 Saturday 20 December&nbsp,
Burnley vs. AFC Bournemouth
Aston Villa v Manchester United
Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Sunderland
Everton v Arsenal
Nottingham Forest vs. Fulham
Leeds United v Crystal Palace
West Ham United vs. Manchester City
Newcastle United v Chelsea
Liverpool vs. Tottenham Hotspur
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Brentford

MW18 Saturday, December 27
Arsenal v Brighton &amp, Hove Albion
AFC Bournemouth vs. Brentford
Burnley v Everton
Aston Villa vs. Chelsea
Crystal Palace v Tottenham Hotspur
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Liverpool
Manchester United v Newcastle United
Manchester City vs. Nottingham Forest
Sunderland v Leeds United
Fulham vs. West Ham United

MW19 Tuesday 30 December&nbsp,
Aston Villa vs. Arsenal
Brentford v Tottenham Hotspur
Newcastle United vs. Burnley
Chelsea v AFC Bournemouth
Fulham vs. Crystal Palace
Liverpool v Leeds United
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Manchester United
Nottingham Forest v Everton
Manchester City vs. Sunderland
West Ham United v Brighton &amp, Hove Albion

MW20 Saturday, January 3, 2026
AFC Bournemouth v Arsenal
Nottingham Forest vs. Aston Villa
Brighton &amp, Hove Albion v Burnley
Brentford vs. Everton
Fulham v Liverpool
Manchester United vs. Leeds United
Manchester City v Chelsea
Crystal Palace vs. Newcastle United
Tottenham Hotspur v Sunderland
West Ham United vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers

MW21 Wednesday 7 January 2026
Tottenham Hotspur vs. AFC Bournemouth
Arsenal v Liverpool
Sunderland vs. Brentford
Burnley v Manchester United
00 Crystal Palace vs. Aston Villa
Everton v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Chelsea vs. Fulham
20: 00 Manchester City v Brighton &amp, Hove Albion
Leeds United vs. Newcastle United
West Ham United v Nottingham Forest

MW22 Saturday, January 17, 2012,
Aston Villa v Everton
Brighton & Hove Albion vs. AFC Bournemouth
Chelsea v Brentford
Fulham vs. Leeds United
Liverpool v Burnley
Manchester City vs. Manchester United
Nottingham Forest v Arsenal
Crystal Palace vs. Sunderland
Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United
Newcastle United vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers

MW23 Saturday 24 January&nbsp,
Liverpool vs. AFC Bournemouth
Arsenal v Manchester United
Nottingham Forest vs. Brentford
Burnley v Tottenham Hotspur
Chelsea vs. Crystal Palace
Everton v Leeds United
Brighton & Hove Albion face Fulham at Fulham.
Manchester City v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Aston Villa vs. Newcastle United
West Ham United v Sunderland

MW24 Saturday, January 31.
Aston Villa v Brentford
Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Everton
Chelsea v West Ham United
Arsenal vs. Leeds United
Liverpool v Newcastle United
Fulham vs. Manchester United
Nottingham Forest v Crystal Palace
Burnley vs. Sunderland
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. AFC Bournemouth

MW25 Saturday 7 February&nbsp,
AFC Bournemouth vs. Aston Villa
Arsenal v Sunderland
Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Crystal Palace
Burnley v West Ham United
Everton vs. Fulham
Leeds United v Nottingham Forest
Manchester City vs. Liverpool
Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur
Brentford vs. Newcastle United
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Chelsea

MW26 Wednesday, February 11th,
20: 00 Aston Villa v Brighton &amp, Hove Albion
Arsenal vs. Brentford
Chelsea v Leeds United
Crystal Palace and Burnley versus 20:00
Everton v AFC Bournemouth
Manchester City vs. Fulham 20:00
Nottingham Forest v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Liverpool vs. Sunderland
Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United
Manchester United vs. West Ham United

MW27 Saturday 21 February
Leeds United vs. Aston Villa
Brentford v Brighton &amp, Hove Albion
Burnley vs. Chelsea
Crystal Palace v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Everton vs. Manchester United
Manchester City v Newcastle United
Liverpool vs. Nottingham Forest
Sunderland v Fulham
Arsenal vs. Tottenham Hotspur
West Ham United v AFC Bournemouth

MW28 Saturday, February 28
AFC Bournemouth v Sunderland
Chelsea vs. Arsenal
Brighton &amp, Hove Albion v Nottingham Forest
Brentford vs. Burnley
Fulham v Tottenham Hotspur
Manchester City vs. Leeds United
Liverpool v West Ham United
Crystal Palace vs. Manchester United
Newcastle United v Everton
Aston Villa vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers

MW29 Wednesday 4 March&nbsp,
Brentford vs. AFC Bournemouth
20: 00 Aston Villa v Chelsea
Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Arsenal
Everton v Burnley
West Ham United vs. Fulham
Leeds United v Sunderland
Nottingham Forest vs. Manchester City 20:00
Newcastle United v Manchester United
Crystal Palace vs. Tottenham Hotspur
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Liverpool

MW30 Saturday, March 14th,
Arsenal v Everton
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Brentford
Burnley v AFC Bournemouth
Newcastle United vs. Chelsea
Crystal Palace v Leeds United
Tottenham Hotspur vs. Liverpool
Manchester United v Aston Villa
Fulham vs. Nottingham Forest
Sunderland v Brighton &amp, Hove Albion
Manchester City vs. West Ham United

MW31 Saturday 21 March&nbsp,
Manchester United vs. AFC Bournemouth
Aston Villa v West Ham United
Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Liverpool
Everton v Chelsea
Burnley vs. Fulham
Leeds United v Brentford
Crystal Palace vs. Manchester City
Newcastle United v Sunderland
Nottingham Forest vs. Tottenham Hotspur
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Arsenal

MW32 Saturday, April 11th,
Arsenal v AFC Bournemouth
Everton vs. Brentford
Burnley v Brighton &amp, Hove Albion
Manchester City vs. Chelsea
Crystal Palace v Newcastle United
Fulham vs. Liverpool
Manchester United v Leeds United
Aston Villa vs. Nottingham Forest
Sunderland v Tottenham Hotspur
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. West Ham United

MW33 Saturday 18 April&nbsp,
Sunderland vs. Aston Villa
Brentford v Fulham
Manchester United vs. Chelsea
Crystal Palace v West Ham United
Everton vs. Liverpool
Leeds United v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arsenal vs. Manchester City
Newcastle United v AFC Bournemouth
Burnley vs. Nottingham Forest
Tottenham Hotspur v Brighton &amp, Hove Albion

MW34 Saturday, April 25th,
AFC Bournemouth v Leeds United
Newcastle United vs. Arsenal
Brighton &amp, Hove Albion v Chelsea
Manchester City vs. Burnley
Fulham v Aston Villa
Crystal Palace vs. Liverpool
Manchester United v Brentford
Nottingham Forest vs. Sunderland
West Ham United v Everton
Tottenham Hotspur vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers

MW35 Saturday 2 May
AFC Bournemouth vs. Crystal Palace
Arsenal v Fulham
Tottenham Hotspur vs. Aston Villa
Brentford v West Ham United
Nottingham Forest vs. Chelsea
Everton v Manchester City
Burnley vs. Leeds United
Manchester United v Liverpool
Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Newcastle United
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Sunderland

MW36 Saturday, May 9
Brighton &amp, Hove Albion v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Aston Villa vs. Burnley
Crystal Palace v Everton
AFC Bournemouth vs. Fulham
Liverpool v Chelsea
Brentford vs. Manchester City
Nottingham Forest v Newcastle United
Manchester United vs. Sunderland
Tottenham Hotspur v Leeds United
Arsenal vs. West Ham United

MW37 Sunday 17 May
Manchester City vs. AFC Bournemouth
Arsenal v Burnley
Liverpool vs. Aston Villa
Brentford v Crystal Palace
Tottenham Hotspur vs. Chelsea
Everton v Sunderland
Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Leeds United
Manchester United v Nottingham Forest
West Ham United vs. Newcastle United
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Fulham

Jannik Sinner, the world’s number one, won the straight-sets match on Tuesday at the Halle Open after suffering agonizing French Open defeat to Carlos Alcaraz.

Just over a week after his five-hour, 29-minute loss to Alcaraz at Roland Garros, the 23-year-old defeated Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann 7-5, 6-3, on the Halle grass.

Sinner broke in the final set game and once more in the second to defeat Hanfmann, who is ranked 138th overall.

After the victory, Sinner declared on court, “I’m very happy about my performance.

Anything could happen after the first set, which could have turned into a tie-break.

Let’s see what comes up in the next round because first matches are never easy on grass like second and third matches are.

READ ALSO: Sabalenka Apologises to Gauff for her “unprofessional” French Open comments

On Thursday, Sinner, who won the previous year’s tournament, will face Alexander Bublik, who was the 2023 Halle champion, in the last 16. In the Roland Garros quarter-finals earlier this month, he defeated Bublik in three sets.

After losing five sets to Alcaraz at the French Open, Sinner admitted to having “a few sleepless nights” before the Wimbledon warm-up event.

On Wednesday, world number three Alexander Zverev, a two-time Halle champion, launches his campaign against Marcos Giron, a native of Argentina.

For years, the small South American country of Suriname, a former Dutch colony, has been instrumental in producing some of the Netherlands’ best footballers, from Frank Rijkaard and Ruud Gullit to Clarence Seedorf.

Now, nearly 40 years after Gullit inspired the Dutch to victory in the 1988 European Championships, their only major trophy, the boot is on the other foot.

Suriname is banking on Dutch players of Surinamese origin to help it achieve its wildest dream: booking a spot in the FIFA World Cup finals for the first time when it comes to North America in June next year.

“It’s a dream of the nation and we hope that we can fulfil that dream,” the president of the Suriname football federation Soerin Mathoera, told AFP in a recent interview in the Surinamese capital Paramaribo.

The tropical country of 600,000 people situated on the northeast coast of South America, ranked 137th in the world by FIFA, looked on with pride as its children’s children helped revive the fortunes of the struggling “Oranje” in the late 1980s.

After failing to qualify for the 1982 and 1986 World Cups, a fabled trio of Surinamese-origin  — Rijkaard, Gullit and Aron Winter — formed the nucleus of a new Dutch dream team.

It was not all plain sailing for players of color in the overwhelmingly white Dutch teams of the day.

Gullit complained of receiving racial abuse.

But the Surinamese influence endured.

In the 1990s, the likes of Edgar Davids helped the Netherlands reach the semi-final of the 1998 World Cup.

Current Dutch captain Virgil van Dijk, who has been a standout centre-back for English champions Liverpool, was born in the Dutch city of Breda to a Dutch father and Surinamese mother.

READ ALSO: Senegal Stun England, Become First African Side To Defeat Them 

‘Much easier’ path to qualifiers 

Now the time has come for Suriname football to have its own moment in the sun.

In pursuit of its World Cup dream authorities in the Caribbean nation six years ago broke with a longtime taboo by allowing players from the Surinamese diaspora join the national team.

The floodgates opened.

Six years on, only three of the 26 players in the Surinamese squad were born in the country.

The rest moved from Europe or Asia to play for their ancestral homeland, seen as having its best chance yet of reaching the World Cup at next year’s expanded tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico of 48 teams (up from 32 previously).

Despite being in South America, Suriname is part of the Concacaf (North, Central America and the Caribbean associations) federation.

Being in the same group as the hosts, who automatically qualify for the tournament, is a shot in the arm for Suriname.

With no competition from the co-hosts for the five remaining Concacaf spots, its chances of making it through have grown exponentially.

The team has gone into the qualifiers with a pep in their step, helped by a new crop of players with experience from Europe’s premier leagues.

And it shows.

A goal from Dutch-born Jaden Montnor gave Suriname a 1-0 victory over Puerto Rico on June 6, taking it to the third round of the qualifiers in September.

“We have made a lot of progress,” said Mathoera.

“We are among the best 14 countries within (41-federation) Concacaf,” he claimed.

The team’s assistant coach, Roberto Godeken, who also manages SV Robinhood, the country’s top club, agreed the path to the World Cup was “much easier” than in the past.

“We definitely have a much better chance of qualifying,” he said, crediting “the arrival of the diaspora” with taking Suriname football “to a higher level.”

 Suriname’s Kante 

Renske Adipi “Kante”, 25, a midfielder for Robinhood and the national team, hopes to write his name in the sporting annals like his idol French midfielder N’Golo Kante.

Robinhood’s only fully professional player, who is in talks with foreign clubs about a transfer, said he was “learning a lot” from foreign-born players.

Diederik Samwel, the author of a book entitled “Suriname en route to the World Cup,” said it was only a matter of time before the technical prowess of local players, blended with the Europeans’ tactical skills, produced a breakthrough.

For Godeken, it would be a “historic” feat if Suriname made it through.

“It would put Suriname on the map,” he said.

For years, the small South American country of Suriname, a former Dutch colony, has been instrumental in producing some of the Netherlands’ best footballers, from Frank Rijkaard and Ruud Gullit to Clarence Seedorf.

Now, nearly 40 years after Gullit inspired the Dutch to victory in the 1988 European Championships, their only major trophy, the boot is on the other foot.

Suriname is banking on Dutch players of Surinamese origin to help it achieve its wildest dream: booking a spot in the FIFA World Cup finals for the first time when it comes to North America in June next year.

“It’s a dream of the nation and we hope that we can fulfil that dream,” the president of the Suriname football federation Soerin Mathoera, told AFP in a recent interview in the Surinamese capital Paramaribo.

The tropical country of 600,000 people situated on the northeast coast of South America, ranked 137th in the world by FIFA, looked on with pride as its children’s children helped revive the fortunes of the struggling “Oranje” in the late 1980s.

After failing to qualify for the 1982 and 1986 World Cups, a fabled trio of Surinamese-origin  — Rijkaard, Gullit and Aron Winter — formed the nucleus of a new Dutch dream team.

It was not all plain sailing for players of color in the overwhelmingly white Dutch teams of the day.

Gullit complained of receiving racial abuse.

But the Surinamese influence endured.

In the 1990s, the likes of Edgar Davids helped the Netherlands reach the semi-final of the 1998 World Cup.

Current Dutch captain Virgil van Dijk, who has been a standout centre-back for English champions Liverpool, was born in the Dutch city of Breda to a Dutch father and Surinamese mother.

READ ALSO: Senegal Stun England, Become First African Side To Defeat Them 

‘Much easier’ path to qualifiers 

Now the time has come for Suriname football to have its own moment in the sun.

In pursuit of its World Cup dream authorities in the Caribbean nation six years ago broke with a longtime taboo by allowing players from the Surinamese diaspora join the national team.

The floodgates opened.

Six years on, only three of the 26 players in the Surinamese squad were born in the country.

The rest moved from Europe or Asia to play for their ancestral homeland, seen as having its best chance yet of reaching the World Cup at next year’s expanded tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico of 48 teams (up from 32 previously).

Despite being in South America, Suriname is part of the Concacaf (North, Central America and the Caribbean associations) federation.

Being in the same group as the hosts, who automatically qualify for the tournament, is a shot in the arm for Suriname.

With no competition from the co-hosts for the five remaining Concacaf spots, its chances of making it through have grown exponentially.

The team has gone into the qualifiers with a pep in their step, helped by a new crop of players with experience from Europe’s premier leagues.

And it shows.

A goal from Dutch-born Jaden Montnor gave Suriname a 1-0 victory over Puerto Rico on June 6, taking it to the third round of the qualifiers in September.

“We have made a lot of progress,” said Mathoera.

“We are among the best 14 countries within (41-federation) Concacaf,” he claimed.

The team’s assistant coach, Roberto Godeken, who also manages SV Robinhood, the country’s top club, agreed the path to the World Cup was “much easier” than in the past.

“We definitely have a much better chance of qualifying,” he said, crediting “the arrival of the diaspora” with taking Suriname football “to a higher level.”

 Suriname’s Kante 

Renske Adipi “Kante”, 25, a midfielder for Robinhood and the national team, hopes to write his name in the sporting annals like his idol French midfielder N’Golo Kante.

Robinhood’s only fully professional player, who is in talks with foreign clubs about a transfer, said he was “learning a lot” from foreign-born players.

Diederik Samwel, the author of a book entitled “Suriname en route to the World Cup,” said it was only a matter of time before the technical prowess of local players, blended with the Europeans’ tactical skills, produced a breakthrough.

For Godeken, it would be a “historic” feat if Suriname made it through.

“It would put Suriname on the map,” he said.