FAT has not built on Nay Pyi Taw success

The under-23 side’s title triumph for the first time in six years in Nay Pyi Taw last month raised hopes that it would herald a new era after a long period of underachievement.

However, since a 1-0 victory over Indonesia in the final to reclaim the title that the country last won in 2007 in Nakhon Ratchasima, there appears to be little progress in terms of an effort to build on the success achieved by coach Kiatisak Senamuang’s team.

After becoming the third Thai to win the SEA Games title both as a player and coach, the former national striker Kiatisak has decided to take up a course to acquire A-coaching licence. In fact, it was reported that the Football Association of Thailand is lining him up to coach the senior side.

On Friday, the 40-year-old Kiatisak said he did not have any talk with the association about the job even though he is on the verge of completing the course. The lack of any development left him wondering whether the Thai FA still wants him.

With Thailand still to play the Asian Cup qualifiers, albeit with no chance of making it to the finals in Australia next year, the Asian Games and the Asean Championship this year, the FAT need to address the issue quickly. The sooner it solves the problem, the better for the national team in terms of preparations for those competitions.

The Thai FA’s indecision was partly down to the fall out from its controversial elections. Worawi Makudi is yet to officially assume his role as the president even though he won the post for the fourth consecutive term in mid-October.

Thailand had put in indifferent performances under the guidance of three foreign coaches, Peter Reid, Bryan Robson and Winfried Schaefer, while Surachai Jaturapattarapong’s tenure as caretaker coach produced little improvement in terms of results. Kiatisak, therefore, emerged as a standout candidate for the senior post.

Although Kiatisak’s previous jobs in club football was anything but outstanding, he did more than enough to prove his credentials by helping the country regain its glory at the biennial tournament after back-to-back group stage exits in the previous two editions in Laos and Indonesia, respectively.

Judging from the words of players, Kiatisak appears to command the respect of the team. His relatively relaxed approach also seemed to better suit the traits of Thai players.

The Asian Cup qualifier against Lebanon next month may be meaningless but it could still provide an opportunity to build a team for the future. The association, therefore, needs to decide on who should lead the side.