Sukhothai FC president Somsak confident of making Shanghai trip
Sukhothai FC president Somsak Thepsuthin says he will stop at nothing to ensure his Thai League side is able to travel to China to face Shanghai SIPG in the AFC Champions League playoff next week after being held up due to visa problems.
Sukhothai are the only Thai representatives left in the playoffs after they crushed Myanmar’s Yadanarbon FC 5-0 at home on Tuesday, while Thai League runners-up Bangkok United went out in the preliminary round following a heart-breaking loss to Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim on penalties.
Up next for Sukhothai is a glamour tie in Shanghai against the big-spending Chinese Super League club boasting star names such as ex-Chelsea midfielder Oscar and Hulk in their ranks.
Rather than being able to look calmly ahead to the high-profile fixture, with a berth in the lucrative group stage of the elite continental competition at stake, the Thai club has been made to wait anxiously to find out whether they can actually travel to play the game on Tuesday.
“We are encountering a problem in travelling to China because the players’ visa applications are still to be submitted. The Chinese embassy is closed during the Chinese New Year festival from January 27 and opens only on Friday. That means we will have just one or two days to get our visas.
“I can say emphatically that the club has never been complacent about the matter. We’ve tried to contact travel agencies but they all refused to deal with us regarding air tickets and visas due to the New Year holidays. Nevertheless, we’ll try to do everything to get there. We have a total of 24 players and coaching staff who have to apply for visas,” said Somsak.
The Sukhothai FC boss said his side would not forfeit the tie even if the potential fine the club would face is much less than the travel expenses for the trip.
“If our players do receive visas, we will not be able to take a direct flight to China because most of the flights are fully booked. So we may have to take a connecting flight from Hong Kong. We may not get tickets for all the squad on one flight and some may have to take different flights. That could cost us at least Bt1.5 million. On the other hand, if we forfeit the tie, we will be fined only Bt700,000.
“But as the club’s president, I’ll do all that I can to help the team compete in China. I don’t want to beg anyone for help. I must admit that we’re still novices when it comes to competing on the continental stage.
“Our management is still not up to the level of major clubs, but the Shanghai fixture must go ahead since we don’t want to let down our fans and sponsors. At the moment we’re not a provincial side but the country’s representatives in Asia,” said Somsak.
