Teasing nickname riles national midfielder Chanathip
CHANATHIP SONGKRASIN’S father advised him not to let his emotions get the better of him after the J-League-bound national midfielder became so upset with a nickname mainstream media gave him that he took to social media to vent his anger.
Chanathip’s outburst came after he was labelled “Little Monkey Gets Auntie” by the Sports Reporters-Photographers Association of Thailand when they announced the annual list of nicknames for people in sporting circles.
In Chanathip’s case, the nickname was in reference to his relationship with TV star Pichanart “May” Sakakorn, who is older than him. Their romance has caused a stir since the actress admitted in August that they were dating.
The association might have given the nickname in a lighthearted manner but the 23-year-old Chanathip, who will join J-League newcomers Consadole Sapporo from Thai League champions Muangthong United on a loan deal in July, did not see the funny side of it.
“To those who wrote it [the association], you’re such foul-mouthed people #that’s why I don’t want to give interviews since you’re that kind of people,” Chanathip wrote on his Facebook page.
The player, fondly called “Messi Jay” by fans and media for having a similar body as Barcelona’s Argentine star Lionel Messi while also being a good dribbler of the ball, then toned down his next comment, saying “I thought I would be happy on New Year day … now it all sucks.”
That prompted Kongphop, the midfielder’s father, to remind his son to put a lid on his emotions.
“To be up there [among the best], you need to keep a cool head,” read Kongphop’s Facebook post in response to his son’s comments.
He then apologised for his son’s unsavoury reaction.
“I would like to apologise [to everyone]. Hopefully, it all ends now. He has done something wrong. I knew it. Please, accept my apology for what he did,” Kongphop posted a comment on his Facebook page.
