Soccer squad plans birthday gift for HM
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Thailand's under-23 men's soccer team are desperate to regain the SEA Games title as a belated birthday present for His Majesty the King.
The Thai side, the most successful in the history of the biennial tournament, will face unfancied Timor Leste in their opening Group B match in Yangon tomorrow.
After establishing a stranglehold on the event by winning eight consecutive titles, the Thais have suffered humbling back-to-back group-stage exits at the last two editions, in Laos and Indonesia respectively.
Former national captain Kiatisak “Zico” Senamuang, who is in charge of the SEA Games squad, is hoping to help the team reclaim the gold medal as a present for the beloved King, whose 86th birthday fell yesterday.
“Every player in the team wants to win the gold medal for the King,” said the 40-year-old Kiatisak, who led his side in a candle-lighting ceremony for His Majesty at the Thai embassy in Myanmar last night.
Kiatisak’s men were left with nowhere to train when they arrived Yangon on Tuesday, after the hosts failed to find a pitch for them. They eventually got a run-out the following day, but Kiatisak complained that the pitch’s surface was different to the one at the match venue.
“The pitch we are training on has heavier grass. As a result we have to hit the ball harder when passing. We are hoping the hosts can find us a pitch that is similar to the one at the match venue.”
Timor lost 9-0 to Thailand last time the two teams faced off in the tournament four years ago, but Kiatisak does not expect his men to repeat that thrashing, given Timor has since drafted in overseas naturalised players.
“I don’t think we will score such a heavy win again against Timor. I will be happy with just the three points from our first match,” he said.
