Henk ten Cate: Suriname's New Hope for World Cup Dreams

Veteran coach Henk ten Cate has been appointed as the new coach of Suriname's national football team. The former Ajax coach aims to lead Suriname to its first-ever World Cup appearance. Suriname missed automatic qualification but now faces Bolivia in a crucial playoff match.

Suriname has appointed veteran Henk ten Cate as their new head coach, aiming to secure a spot in the World Cup playoffs set for March. The country's football association confirmed his appointment on Sunday.

Ten Cate, age 71, has an extensive coaching background with Ajax, Barcelona, and Chelsea, and will attempt to lead Suriname in their quest for a historic first World Cup qualification. They are scheduled to face Bolivia in Monterrey on March 26. A victory would pit them against Iraq on March 31, with the winners progressing to the 2026 World Cup Group I.

After narrowly missing automatic qualification due to a loss against Guatemala, Suriname's previous coach Stanley Menzo resigned, paving the way for Ten Cate. The Surinamese association is optimistic about Ten Cate's tactical skills and leadership. (Reported by Mark Gleeson; Edited by Lincoln Feast)

(With inputs from agencies.)