Former Suriname national team manager Henk ten Cate has spoken candidly about the disappointment of failing to qualify for the World Cup after briefly coming out of retirement in late 2025.
The Dutch tactician shared his thoughts during an appearance on the VoetbalPrimeur podcast Willem & Wessel, recorded at Bistrobar 't Leeuwtje.
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“Jammer, we hebben het net niet gehaald. Dat doet nog steeds wel een beetje pijn,” Ten Cate said, expressing that the near-miss still stings.
Realistic Assessment of Suriname's Level
Despite the regret, Ten Cate offered a realistic view of the team's capabilities. He acknowledged that the squad was far from competitive against elite international sides.
“Maar: we hadden er niets te zoeken. Kaapverdië en Curaçao?
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Nee, ook niet. Het is leuk hoor, het zou fantastisch zijn, maar je bent een beetje versiersel.
Zoiets. We hadden de tweede ronde niet gehaald,” he stated.
He added: “Je moet realistisch zijn. We hadden in een poule gezeten met Frankrijk en Noorwegen...”
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The podcast, hosted by Willem van Hanegem and Wessel Penning, also reviewed the Netherlands' recent match against Tunisia and looked ahead to their upcoming knockout fixture against Morocco.
