HM the King 'closely followed football finals'
His Majesty the King paid particular attention to the Thai national football team's winning campaign at the recently-ended Asean Championship, royal physicist Dr Udom Kachintorn said at Siriraj Hospital where the King is receiving treatment.
Dr Udom said the King was particularly interested in following the Thai team’s winning campaign at the biennial tournament.
“HM the King kept following the Thai team and was particularly interested in the games they played. For example, during the first leg of the final against Malaysia, he watched the broadcast of the game even if only in the second half.
“For the second leg of the final, we informed him that the match would kick off at 7pm. He then took a nap for a while before he awoke by himself and asked to get the TV switched on to watch the game. That showed his determination to see the team’s performance.
“When he saw us trailing 2-0 at half-time, he said he needed to see the deputy principal secretary, as he wanted him to make a call to the team, to let them know that ‘I’m following the match and want to send you my support’.
“It’s a great mercy from the King that he expressed his concern for the team when they seemed to have lost the momentum. The deputy principal secretary then made a call to Kasem [Jariyawatwong, the team manager], telling him the King felt concerned and would like to lend them his support.
“In the second half, even though we found ourselves 3-0 behind, the team started to play better and eventually managed to close the gap to 3-2, which was enough for us to win the title.
“The win made all Thai people happy, while it’s gratifying for the King to give his support, which resulted in the team’s success. Whenever Thai athletes compete, he follows them, and it was no exception this time,” said Udom.
The Thai team emerged as the toast of the country, bringing home the coveted trophy, which Thailand last won 12 years ago, by prevailing 4-3 on aggregate against Malaysia in the two-leg final. The triumph put Thailand level on four titles with Singapore as the most successful nations in the region's showpiece tournament. However, the scenario would have been entirely different had the Thais not been able to rally from 3-0 down with half an hour left in the second leg in Kuala Lumpur, scoring two late goals that ensured them the Cup.
After the Kuala Lumpur fixture, it was revealed that a key message of inspiration, which helped the Thais stage a dramatic second-half fightback, had come from the King, which were relayed to the team at half-time.
The Thai team, led by talismanic coach Kiatisak Senamuang, yesterday visited Siriraj Hospital to pay tributes to the King.
Former national striker Kiatisak, who became the first person to win the event as both player and coach, symbolically presented the Suzuki trophy in front of the King’s image before leading his players to sign a well-wishers’ book.
Thai defender Suttinun Pukhom described the King’s words as the “biggest” memory of his life as a national player. “I was really overwhelmed. It caused me to shed a ‘man’s tears’. It’s the biggest memory of my life while serving the country,” said the Chonburi FC player.
