Thailand aim to maintain their record as the top team in the region
DEFENDING champions Thailand are all set to unveil a new team for the fifth edition of South-East Asia's football showcase.
The previous team were built much on the pace and power of the likes of Piyapong Pue-on in the eighties and Kiatisuk Senamuang in the nineties until last year.
Now the “Young Blood”, under the German coach Siegfried Held, will have to strut their stuff to maintain the Thais reputation as the top team in the region. Thailand were champions in the inaugural championship in 1996 and also in 2000.
“We had a 'Dream Team' of very talented players but that was 10 years ago. Now we have a young team and one for the future. we call them Young Blood,” said team manager Vimol Kanjana.
Brazilian coach Carlos Robeto de Carvalho, who was the head coach for nearly one year before Held took over in October, set the core of the team.
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STRONG SIDE: The Thailand players celebrate after beating Indonesia in the Tiger Cup final in 2002. |
Vimol said that Carvalho started his mission almost a year ago with nearly 250 players and gradually trimmed it to 36.
The first test for the Young Blood was to be an Under-21 tournament in Manchester, which was to feature the United and City sides. But the tournament was cancelled and the players went to Vietnam for the Ho Chi Minh City Cup.
It was a good outing for the Thai team and they reached the semi-finals.
Their most important match of the year was in the pre-World Cup Asia Group Five tournament against North Korea in June.
They were surprisingly beaten 1-4 by the Koreans in their home match played in front of 60,000 spectators, including Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. And the emotional Thai fans jeered at their team after the match.
Thaksin was the biggest critic, saying that the team carried too many passengers. He hit out at the players' attitude and their lack of desire and determination.
The FA of Thailand (FAT) took full responsibility for the debacle and hired Held to replace Carvalho.
When Held took charge, he only retained three players from the 2002 Tiger Cup winning team – defenders Therdsak Chaiman and Niweat Siriwong and goalkeeper Kosin Hatairatanakul.
In their final two pre-World Cup matches, the Thais defeated United Arab Emirates 3-0 and drew 1-1 with Yemen.
For the upcoming Tiger Cup, Therdsak, who was voted the Most Valuable Player in the 2002, will have a lynchpin role to play for the side.
Held said: “The Tiger Cup will provide a stiff challenge for the team. I know little about the movement of the South-East Asian teams. But I will be getting reports shortly from my contacts in the region and this should help me very much.”
Discipline is one of the most important aspects for Held.
“The players must arrive for training on time, not to fool around during training sessions and to wear proper training attire. The players have to obey the rules or quit,” he said.
Thailand have been drawn in Group B and they open their campaign against Myanmar on Dec 10. Their other matches are against Timor Leste (Dec 12), hosts Malaysia (Dec 14) and the Philippines (Dec 16).
The Thais are really getting into shape and a few more changes should be expected from the very finicky German.
It would be wrong to rule them out from winning the championship for a record fourth time even though they are fielding a team with many newcomers.
PROVISIONAL TEAM
Goalkeepers: Kosin Hathairattanakool, Sivaruk Tedsungnoen, Narit Taweekul, Weera Koedpudsa.
Defenders: Jakapong Jiensathawong, Thritti Nonsrichai, Niweat Siriwong, Anon Nanok, Nakarin Fuplook, Preratat Phoruandee, Yuttajak Konjan, Songsak Chaisamak, Suriya DomTaisong.
Midfielders: Jakkrit Bunkham, Kittisak Siriwaen, Kraikiat Bedtaku, Arthon Saingam, Jessada Puanakunmee, Terdsak Chaiman, Sakda Joemdee, Sarif Sainui.
Forwards: Wasan Nathasan, Datsakorn Thonglao, Ekaphan Inthasen, Preecha Chaokla, Piyawat Thongmaen, Banluesak Yodyingyong, Pitipong Kuldilok, Pongspisut Pue-on.
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