Kiatisak brings in new personnel for Taiwan match
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National football team coach Kiatisak Senamuang wasted no time in filling up players for the World Cup qualifier away match against Taiwan on June 16 after six of his main squad members left to play for the country in the SEA Games.
Thailand needed a late strike from substitute Pokklaw Anan to down a spirited Vietnam side 1-0 in their opening Group F encounter at the packed Rajamangala National stadium to get their World Cup qualifying campaign off the ground.
The six players, four of whom had figured in the Vietnam match, are set to rejoin the under-23 side for the SEA Games title defence in Singapore next month.
The 41-year-old coach will definitely miss the services of Chanathip Songkrasin and Sarach Yooyen, who were the two outstanding performers in the victory over Vietnam on Sunday, but nevertheless feels that others will step in.
“We’ve always kept an eye on those six. We believe that they could adequately replace those who are departing.
“Sila [Srikambang] is a new face but we called up him because he is a natural right back and we are shot on options for that position.
“The six will give us more choices. Yutthajak [Kornchan], Anuwat [Noichuenphan] and Thosawat [Limwanasathien] will help the team in midfield, while Ukrit [Wongmeema] will be our reserve keeper as Kawin Thamsatchanan has not recovered from his injuries,” said Kiatisak.
The Thai coach said he was satisfied with his side’s performance against the Vietnamese even though they managed to win by the narrowest margin despite dictating the play from the outset.
“First of all, I would like to thank our fans for turning out in great numbers at the venue. We rushed it a bit too much in the opening half because we wanted to score early. By saying that, the Vietnamese deserved the credit for preparing the team well.
“Their players are fit and not afraid of us. It was a difficult game. Overall, it’s satisfying. Despite winning by 1-0, we claimed the three points, which was our target.”
Kiatisak also told Muangthong United’s Teerasil Dangda to adjust his playing style after the 26-year-old, making his first start for the national team in more than a year, endured a forgettable evening.
“We had a number of chances in the first half but the goal keeper made several saves. We still need to work on our play in attack. It’s the first game for our new guys at this level so it seemed the nerves got to them a bit.
“Mui [Teerasil’s nickname] has been away from the team for a while and he has not had much opportunity to play with the young players. That’s why he performance was not up to the mark. He, probably, need to change his playing style,” said Kiatisak.
