Kiatisak says incentive scandal will blow over
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Thailand's under-23 team football coach Kiatisak "Zico" Senamuang said the SEA Games incentive scandal would be amicably resolved soon.
Last week, a player from Kiatisak’s squad, which beat Indonesia 1-0 in the final in Nay Pyi Taw to reclaim the gold medal in the SEA Games, said on condition of anonymity that officials failed to keep their promise to pay them Bt1 million each for the title success.
The officials tried to find a compromise by proposing to divide the total amount of Bt9 million in an 80:20 split formula, with the players receiving the majority. Captain Theerathon Bunmathan said his team-mates found that unacceptable.
“Under an 80:20 split, we would get only Bt360,000 each. Combine the figure with Bt200,000 from the National Sport Development Fund and we would get an amount that falls well short of what we had been promised,” said the Buriram United left-back.
People fear the dispute will cause a rift within the team, but former national striker Kiatisak does not believe it will have an effect on his players.
“I reckon both parties need to talk about the issue. They need to put all the money on the table in front of everyone and then try to divide the amount fairly. I believe things will get resolved soon. It definitely would not affect the team’s morale,” said the 40-year-old, who won the Games three times during his stellar playing career.
