Suriname Major League
| Organising body | Surinamese Football Association |
|---|---|
| Founded | 22 February 2024 |
| First season | 2024 |
| Country | Suriname |
| Number of clubs | 10 |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegation to | Eerste Divisie |
| Sponsor(s) | Telesur, GOw2 & Powerade |
| Website | https://sml.sr/ |
| Current: 2024 Suriname Major League | |
The Suriname Major League (SML) is the professional football league in Suriname.
The competition was launched on February 22, 2024, by the Surinamese Football Association as a successor to the SVB Eerste Divisie, 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.[1] The first goal in SML history was scored by Jamilhio Rigters of S.V. Robinhood in the opening match on February 23, 2024, against S.V. Transvaal at the Dr. Ir. Franklin Essed Stadion. Following a goal from Jercinio Grendel of Transvaal, the match ended in a draw.[2]
Start of professional football
Even before its commencement in 2024, it was common for footballers to have contracts with clubs.[3] 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.[1] 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.[4]
The goal of the SML is to accelerate the development of Surinamese football. FIFA representative Herve Blanchard, as well as Minister Gracia Emanuël and Suriname Olympic Committee President Ramon Tjon-A-Fat, were present at the launch.[5]
Teams
The Suriname Major League started in 2024 with the following teams:[6]
See also
References
- ^ a b De Ware Tijd, Profvoetbal een gok, 26 February 2024 (in Dutch)
- ^ De Ware Tijd, Robinhood en Transvaal pakken eerste punt in Suriname Major League, 23 February 2024 (in Dutch)
- ^ Dagblad Suriname, SML en de verandering in woon- en werkomstandigheden van de voetballers, 26 Februari 2024 (in Dutch)
- ^ De West, Vandaag officiële start eerste profleague in Suriname, 24 February 2024 (in Dutch)
- ^ Suriname Herald, “Suriname Major League zal minimaal 250 tot 500 banen creëren”, 22 February 2024 (in Dutch)
- ^ Dagblad Suriname, SML Programma Week 4 & Standenlijst van de SVB, 11 March 2024 (in Dutch)