Mixing football and politics | Bangkok Post: learning

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The fantastic success of veteran politician Newin Chitchob’s Buriram PEA football club this season has not gone unnoticed by other politicians.

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Buriram PEA celebrate after beating Thai Port 2-0 in the League Cup final Saturday night. PHOTOS: PAWAT LAOPAISARNTAKSIN

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Mixing football and politics

The fantastic success of veteran politician Newin Chitchob’s Buriram PEA football club this season has not gone unnoticed by other politicians.

Others have realised that owning a successful football club is not only enjoyable, but it gives them a chance to boost their profile among their constituents and draw more support in coming elections.

They have a long way to go before they can match Mr Newin’s success, however.

Buriram PEA completed a historic run on Saturday when it defeated Thai Port 2-0 in the League Cup final at Supachalasai National Stadium.

The northeastern side, nicknamed Thunder Castle, had already won the Thai Premier League title race and the FA cup.

This season was only the club's second under the name Buriram PEA. Next season, it will become Buriram United after it merges with sister club Buriram FC.

Mr Newin, the de facto leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, has taken his football club from humble beginnings into a team which is now known nationwide.

Observers say he has what it takes to get residents of his home province to rally behind their club on the football pitch, which has also proved to be a major plus in the political arena.

In the recent election for the chief of the Buri Ram provincial administrative organisation, Mr Newin's wife, Karuna Chidchob, garnered more than 400,000 votes, leaving a rival Pheu Thai Party candidate trailing far behind.

Other football teams with connections to politicians include Chonburi FC and Pattaya United, which are supported by the Khunploem family which set up the Phalang Chon Party – now a member of the government coalition. Democrat list MP Nipon Boonyamanee is chairman of the Division One-side Songkhla FC.

Mr Nipon says he wants the team to play in the top flight.

"Politicians are now being pressured by residents who want to have their own provincial football clubs," Mr Nipon said. "Many MPs from the Democrat Party are now keen to run a football club and ask for my advice."

Adapted from a story in today’s Bangkok Post by King-oua Laohong.

fantastic – extremely good เยี่ยมยอด, วิเศษ
veteran – a person who has a lot of experience in a particular area or activity (สส.)หน้าเก่า, (สส.)หลายสมัย, ผู้อาวุโส, ทหารผ่านศึก
boost – to increase เพิ่ม
profile – the general impression that somebody/something gives to the public and the amount of attention they receive
constituents – people living in an area represented by a member of parliament  คนในเขตเลือกตั้ง
match – to equal something; to be the same as something else เท่ากันกับ
nickname – an informal name for someone or something, especially a name which you are called by your friends or family, usually based on your proper name or your character ชื่อเล่น
title – the position of a winner in a sports competition  ตำแหน่งแชมป์
merge – (of two or more groups) to join together to become one การรวมกัน
de facto – in reality;  in fact อย่างแท้จริง, อันที่จริง, ตามความจริง
humble – not large or special ต่ำต้อย
nationwide – throughout a whole country  ทั่วทั้งประเทศ
observer – a person who watches and analyses a situation ผู้สังเกตการณ์
residents – people who live in a particular area ประชาชนที่อาศัยในท้องที่
rally – to join other people in order to support someone or something รวมตัวกันเพื่อสนับสนุน
prove to be – to be shown to be  ปรากฏว่า, แสดงว่า
plus – a positive factor; a benefit ข้อได้เปรียบ ข้อดี
arena – an area of activity that concerns the public, especially one where there is a lot of opposition between different groups or countries เวที
garner – to obtain; to get ได้รับ, รวบรวมได้
rival – a person you are competing against or opposing คู่แข่ง
candidate – a person who is trying to be elected ผู้สมัครรับเลือกตั้ง
trail – to be behind some in a competition ตาม
connection – a relationship between people or groups ความสัมพันธ์
coalition – a temporary union of different political parties that agree to form a government together  พรรคร่วมรัฐบาล
party-list – a system that gives each party in an election a number of seats in relation to the number of votes its candidates receive ระบบสัดส่วน, ระบบปาร์ตี้ลิสต์
top flight – the top level, in this case, the Thai Premier League
pressure – to try to make someone do something by forcing, threatening, or persuading them in a determined way กดดัน
keen – very interested in activity  สนใจอย่างยิ่ง
advice – an opinion or a suggestion about what somebody should do in a particular situation  คำแนะนำ