Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has announced a 5 million baht cash reward for the Thai national football team which won the AFF Suzuki Cup last Saturday.
As well as the prime minister's cash handout, the national football team has been offered about 35 million baht in rewards from various sources, including the Tourism and Sports Ministry, the Football Association of Thailand and team sponsors.
Gen Prayut also said he would help pull in additional funding for the team.
"On Saturday the Thai team received moral support from His Majesty the King. His Majesty did not say they had to win but he told them to concentrate on their game and they finally won," said the prime minister. He was referring to last Saturday's match in which the Thai team had lost 3-0 to Malaysia at half time. During the break His Majesty asked his principal private secretary to phone coach Kiatisak Senamuang to offer moral support.
The team finally scored twice in the second half, losing 2-3 to Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur, but winning the cup 4-3 on aggregate. The government will host a party for the team at Government House today.