Kluivert, Seedorf to bolster Suriname’s bid to qualify for World Cup

PARAMARIBO, Suriname:

Dutch football legends Patrick Kluivert and Clarence Seedorf will use their invaluable expertise to help Suriname as they seek to qualify for their first-ever FIFA World Cup.

Suriname will meet Bolivia in a World Cup inter-confederation playoff in Mexico on March 26, and if they win, they will play Iraq at the same venue on March 31 for a place in the World Cup, which will take place in Canada, Mexico and the USA from June 11 to July 19.

Both Kluivert and Seedorf have indicated their willingness to assist Suriname and will act in unofficial positions.

"It is not an official position. Clarence will remain a member of the supervisory board at the Dutch federation, but he will support me as a sounding board and as an ambassador for Suriname. Just like Patrick Kluivert," the team's general manager Brian Tevreden said on Saturday.

"They both want to contribute ideas and see how we can further improve the path we have taken."

The 49-year-old Seedorf was born in Suriname, but moved to the Netherlands at the age of two and went on to play 87 times for the Netherlands, including reaching the World Cup semi-finals in 1998.

Kluivert, also 49, scored 40 goals for the Dutch. He also has a connection to the Caribbean island as his father is from Suriname.

Suriname coach Stanley Menzo quit after they failed to secure direct qualification last November.

He has been replaced by Henk ten Cate, with ex-Dutch internationals Winston Bogarde and Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink added to the coaching staff in recent months.

- CMC