Teerasil named best of the TPL's elite players
Striker Teerasil Dangda was rewarded for his remarkable season with Muang Thong United yesterday when he was named best Thai Premier League player by Football Siam Golden Ball.
Among those attending the event yesterday at the Golden Tulip Sovereign hotel was Worawi Makudi, the Football Association of Thailand president. The ceremony was preceded by a minute’s silence in tribute to deputy premier and tourism and sports minister Chumpol Silapa-archa, who died earlier in the day.
Action underway, the best goal award went to Osotspa Saraburi’s Lazarus Kaimbi, for his first-time volley that dipped into the far corner in a league match against BEC Tero Sasana.
BEC Tero’s forward Cleiton Silva, whose 24 goals made him joint top scorer last season with Teerasil, clinched the best foreign player award, while Buriram United’s left-back Theerathon Bunmathan was the fans’ favourite after receiving most votes from supporters.
Brazilian hotshot Silva bagged his second award on the evening with the Golden Boot for his scoring exploits for BEC Tero who finished third in the league last season. Muang Thong’s Teerasil, who is still in Spain on a trial with Atletico Madrid, also won the same award.
BEC Tero’s diminutive winger Chanathip Songkrasin, dubbed Messi Junior for dribbling skills and height (157cm) that bring to mind the world’s best player, took the award for best under-23 player. Wilaiporn Boonduang claimed the best female player on the back of her strong display for the national team at the Asean Championship in Vietnam last year.
Muang Thong United, who remained unbeaten on the way to their third title in four years, won their second-straight team of the year award as expected, while their Serbian coach Slavisa Jokanovic was named best coach of the year.
The evening, though, belonged to Teerasil as he sealed the top award for his impressive form with club and country. The 24-year-old finished as top scorer in the recent Asean Championship with five goals.
