Kiatisak concerned about cooler weather in Nay Pyi Taw
Thailand welcome back three first-choice players, including Buriram United left back Theerathon Bunmathan from suspension, for the semi-final clash with Singapore tomorrow in the men's soccer competition of the 27th SEA Games in Myanmar.
The Thai side reached the last four of the biennial tournament for the first time in four years after they finished as Group B winners despite having to settle for a goalless draw against winless Cambodia in their final group match on Monday.
Theerathon, Kroekrit Thawikan and Praweenwat Boonyong sat out the Cambodia match due to a one-match suspension. Had the trio not been suspended, they would not have featured in the game at Thuwanna stadium in Yangon as coach Kiatisak “Zico” Senamuang opted to field a second-string team against Cambodia, who ended their campaign with a point from four matches.
Kiatisak was disappointed at the failure to beat Cambodia for the first time in 42 years in the event. The draw, though, was good enough for his charges to secure the top spot after Myanmar, lying second ahead of the final round of fixtures, surprisingly tumbled out of the tournament.
Needing only a draw to guarantee their qualification, Myanmar, however, went down 1-0 to Indonesia, who leapfrogged them into the second spot thanks to their better head-to-head record after the two sides finished level on seven points.
Myanmar’s shock elimination sparked crowd trouble. TV pictures showed rioting fans tearing up seats, burning shirts and throwing stones at officers after the match at the 50,000-capacity Yangon stadium.
Thailand’s semi-final clash with Singapore takes place in Nay Pyi Taw and Kiatisak’s men arrived in the new capital yesterday after a six-hour bus journey from Yangon. The 40-year-old Kiatisak was concerned with the much cooler weather.
“What concerned me was the weather, with the temperatures here dropping as low as 13 Celsius degree. We always played in humid conditions, not less than 25 Celsius. It became cooler over the past few days and the temperatures in Nay Pyi Taw are much lower than Yangon.
“We play the Singapore match in the evening when the temperatures are particularly cool so it’s a problem for the team. Nevertheless, we still have two days to adjust to the conditions and I told the medical staff to look after the players closely,” he said.
