The Suriname Major League (SML) is the
professional football league
The English Football League (EFL) is a league of professional football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888 as the Football League, the league is the oldest such competition in the world. It was the top-level football league in Engla ...
in
Suriname
Suriname (; srn, Sranankondre or ), officially the Republic of Suriname ( nl, Republiek Suriname , srn, Ripolik fu Sranan), is a country on the northeastern Atlantic coast of South America. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north ...
.
The competition was launched on February 22, 2024, by the
Surinamese Football Association as a successor to the
SVB Eerste Divisie
The SVB Eerste Divisie is the highest football championship for clubs run by the Surinaamse Voetbal Bond. The Topklasse is at the top of the system of Surinamese football championships. The league currently comprises twelve teams and operates a s ...
, formerly known as the SVB Hoofdklasse. With the start of the SML, professional football was introduced in Suriname, initially as a pilot project for the first four years.
[De Ware Tijd]
Profvoetbal een gok
26 February 2024 The first goal in SML history was scored by
Jamilhio Rigters
Jamilhio Rigters (born 11 November 1999) is a Surinamese professional footballer who plays as a left-wing for SVB Eerste Divisie club Robinhood and the Suriname national team.
International career
Rigters made his senior international debut o ...
of
S.V. Robinhood in the opening match on February 23, 2024, against
S.V. Transvaal
Sport Vereniging Transvaal is a Surinamese association football club, which currently play in the SVB Eerste Divisie, Eerste Divisie, the top flight of football in Suriname. They play their home games in Paramaribo at André Kamperveen Stadion to ...
at the
Dr. Ir. Franklin Essed Stadion
Dr. Ir. Franklin Essed Stadion, formerly known as the Flora Stadion and commonly called the Frank Essed Stadion, is a multi-purpose stadium in Paramaribo, Suriname. It is home to Leo Victor Cosmos, Royal '95, and Super Red Eagles. It is also th ...
. Following a goal from Jercinio Grendel of Transvaal, the match ended in a draw.
[De Ware Tijd]
Robinhood en Transvaal pakken eerste punt in Suriname Major League
23 February 2024
Start of professional football
Even before its commencement in 2024, it was common for footballers to have contracts with clubs. At the outset, it was assumed that not all players would derive their entire income from football, and it was expected to include both professional and semi-professional players.
During the official launch on February 22, 2024, SVB President John Krishnadath expressed the expectation that the professionalization of Surinamese football would create around 250 to 500 jobs. Not only the players but also the club owners will benefit from the competition.
The goal of the SML is to accelerate the development of Surinamese football.
FIFA
FIFA (; stands for ''Fédération Internationale de Football Association'' ( French), meaning International Association Football Federation ) is the international governing body of association football, beach football and futsal. It was found ...
representative Herve Blanchard, as well as Minister Gracia Emanuël and
Suriname Olympic Committee
Suriname Olympic Committee (IOC code: SUR) is the National Olympic Committee representing Suriname.
Logo
Image:Suriname Olympic Committee logo.jpg, Former logo
Image:Suriname Olympic Committee logo new.jpg, Present logo
External links
*Offic ...
President Ramon Tjon-A-Fat, were present at the launch.
Teams
The Suriname Major League started in 2024 with the following teams:
[Dagblad Suriname]
SML Programma Week 4 & Standenlijst van de SVB
11 March 2024 {{in lang, nl
*
Notch,
Moengo
Moengo () is a town in Suriname, located in the Marowijne district, between Paramaribo and the border town Albina on the Cottica River. Moengo is also a resort (municipality) in the district of Marowijne. Moengo was the capital of Marowijne Distr ...
*
PVV,
Paramaribo
*
Transvaal Transvaal is a historical geographic term associated with land north of (''i.e.'', beyond) the Vaal River in South Africa. A number of states and administrative divisions have carried the name Transvaal.
* South African Republic (1856–1902; af, ...
,
Paramaribo
*
Voorwaarts,
Paramaribo
*
Robinhood,
Paramaribo
*
Inter Moengotapoe
Inter Moengotapoe (sometimes rendered Inter Moengo Tapoe or just IMT) is a Surinamese football club, based in Moengo
Moengo () is a town in Suriname, located in the Marowijne district, between Paramaribo and the border town Albina on the Cot ...
,
Moengo
Moengo () is a town in Suriname, located in the Marowijne district, between Paramaribo and the border town Albina on the Cottica River. Moengo is also a resort (municipality) in the district of Marowijne. Moengo was the capital of Marowijne Distr ...
*
Flora,
Paramaribo
*
Wanica,
Kwatta
*
Broki,
Paramaribo
*
Leo Victor,
Paramaribo
See also
*
Football in Suriname
The sport of football in the country of Suriname is run by the Surinamese Football Association. The association administers the national football team, as well as the national football league.
National team
The 1978 FIFA World Cup was the near ...
*
List of football clubs in Suriname
References
External links
Official website SVB
Football leagues in Suriname
Suriname Major League
Suriname
Suriname (; srn, Sranankondre or ), officially the Republic of Suriname ( nl, Republiek Suriname , srn, Ripolik fu Sranan), is a country on the northeastern Atlantic coast of South America. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north ...