No training pitch for Thai SEA Games soccer squad
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Thailand's soccer squad arrived in Myanmar yesterday, four days before kicking off their quest to reclaim the SEA Games title, only to discover they had no training pitch.
The Thai side coached by former national striker Kiatisak “Zico” Senamuang has been drawn in Group B in the biennial tournament along with hosts Myanmar, 2011 finalists Indonesia, Cambodia and Timor Leste, who they face in the opening match on Saturday.
The 40-year-old Kiatisak and his men yesterday touched down in Yangon, where they will play all four group matches. After arriving at the team’s hotel, Kiatisak wasted no time in ordering the players to change into their training kit.
However, local officials informed him they had been unable to find a training pitch for the team, so Kiatisak ordered the players to go jogging around the hotel instead.
The coach was philosophical about the hitch to preparations.
“They failed to reserve a pitch for us even though we contacted them about it in advance. I don’t know what the problem is. But we’ll try to coordinate with the officials to secure a training ground by tomorrow.
“We arrived four days before beginning our campaign in order to prepare the team in the best possible way. Without doubt, it’s not a good thing to come over here and discover there’s nowhere to train,” said Kiatisak.
