Thai football must build on Suzuki Cup success

In football, there is a saying “Form is temporary, class is permanent”. Players and football fans know well that form can end at any time while class lasts long. To be classy, a player or a team needs more than some good displays. The Thai team won the Asean Cup at the weekend, but it is still too early to presume that they have the class. Although they had good performances in the tournament, the team still needs to continue its impressive run to establish itself on the world football map.

The team returned to Thailand as heroes on Sunday after their success in Malaysia. Bangkok erupted with joy, as their victory parade from Don Mueang International Airport to the National Stadium saw thousands of ecstatic fans throng the streets. But before they were crowned champions, the whole of Thailand was holding its breath, when they played the second-leg final of the AFF Suzuki Cup in Kuala Lumpur. The first leg in Bangkok had given the Thais a 2-0 advantage, which meant they could become champions with a win, a draw or a defeat margin of no more than two goals, according to the home-and-away goals rule.

Thailand did not defeat Malaysia in the second leg, but the 3-2 defeat was enough to give them the Asean Cup, after 12 years. They showed their resilience, scoring two goals after they were down 3-0 in the first half. The most memorable moment occurred in the first-leg final in Bangkok when the team’s spectacular display of Barcelona-style “tiki-taka” – short passes and total ball controll – earned them praise from Thai and international football fans. 

Winning the Asean Cup, while a fine achievement, cannot be a benchmark for the team’s success. We should not get carried away, as this is not a new high. Twelve years ago, Thailand’s present coach Kiatisak Senamuang won the Asean Cup as a player. Being the top team in the region is not an improvement. Thailand must strive to attain the level of major Asian football nations like Iran, Japan, Korea, Uzbekistan and UAE. Those countries are ranked in the Fifa top 100, while Thailand is a lowly 142. 

For decades, Thailand’s ultimate goal has always been to qualify for the World Cup. To be able to reach there, they must beat some of Asia’s top teams. Winning the Asean Cup could be a good beginning, as it has revived the flagging interest of Thai football fans. The team spirit gives the fans hope. Moreover, the team is young, as the players are mostly in their early 20s. Still, it is a mountain to climb for Thai football. But the journey has begun. The likes of talented attacking players like Chanathip Songkrasin or Charyl Chappuis are not going to be discovered overnight. It took Thailand more than a decade to find this form in the young talents. There must be an effective system to scout future footballers. The academy system must be improved. Football’s governing body and the country’s leading football clubs must ensure that they prepare to nurture young talents of the calibre of Chanathip and Charyl. 

Football Association of Thailand president Worawi Makudi said the association would give the Thai team Bt300 million, if they can qualify for the World Cup. His grand offer may motivate the team but at the same time it shows a lack of vision. If there is such a massive amount available, it should instead be invested in grooming young talent and set up quality coaching to make them competitive for such tough tournaments. If the association runs out of ideas, it can learn from Asian bodies like Japan and South Korea. The national team can enjoy good form once in a while but to attain class, they have to work for it. And that is going to need a lot of hard work.