Danilho Doekhi, central defender of the Bundesliga soccer club Union Berlin, will apparently decide at the beginning of next year whether he could realize his dream of participating in the World Cup for Suriname.
Suriname, which is still fighting for a ticket to next year’s XXL tournament via the playoffs in March, is hoping for an early conclusion to the year-long effort to free Doekhi from the Dutch association.
“He has not yet been declared eligible to play by FIFA. We are contesting this rejection and have had it thoroughly examined. I have heard from a lawyer that the case will hopefully be heard by the CAS in the second week of January,” said Brian Tevreden, director of the Surinamese association ESPN.nl quoted.
Doekhi wants to play for Suriname
“Suriname is in my heart, I want it,” Doekhi said in the past about a change of association. The association from South America submitted an unsuccessful application for the 27-year-old, who played for several Dutch U-national teams and waited in vain for a nomination for the A squad.
The central defender could therefore be registered in time for the outstanding qualification for the 2026 World Cup. Suriname will face Bolivia in the semi-finals and – if they win – against Iraq in the final.
Doekhi would be the most expensive player in the Suriname squad with a market value of 13 million. Sheraldo Becker (30), a former Union player, is already active for the country. He also played for the Netherlands in his youth – like the majority of the Surinamese national players.
