Thailand coach Kiatisak Senamuang has told his players to behave in the training camp for the upcoming 2018 World Cup qualifier against Australia and the AFF Suzuki Cup or face the axe.
The national team reported for training yesterday morning and later visited Grand Palace with the staff coaches to pay their respects to His Majesty the King, who passed away on Oct 13.
Thailand first face Australia in their fifth Group B match of the World Cup qualifiers at Rajamangala National Stadium on Nov 15 and then participate in the Southeast Asian championship four days later.
While addressing the team, Kiatisak said: "There are strict rules for the national players: no smoking, no drinking, no escaping and no gambling.
"There are newcomers in the team, so they must know about these rules. For the senior ones, the punishment will be very serious if anyone of them is caught breaking these rules.
"They will be immediately told to pack their bags and go back to their clubs or homes. There is no room for leniency or negotiation in this matter. The team discipline is very important."
Kiatisak added: "We have a big task ahead of us and our mission is not over yet. We have to keep playing for the country, for His Majesty the King and for the Thai people."
The head coach also encouraged the newcomers to use the training camp as a stage to showcase their skills.
"We still have six matches left [in the final phase of Asian qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup] and there is also the Suzuki Cup," said Kiatisak, whose team lost all their first four games in the World Cup qualifiers.
"First, we must compete against each other in the training camp to get selected to the final line-ups for the forthcoming assignments."
The coach said he would take another look at the fitness of his players after the Nov 15 clash with Australia before naming the final 22-member squad for the Suzuki Cup, in which Thailand will be defending their title.
"These World Cup qualifiers are always keenly fought affairs, so there is a big chance of one or more players sustaining injuries," he said.
He added that his men have not played any competitive football since their 4-0 loss to Iraq earlier this month as all the domestic games were cancelled as a part of the official mourning marking the death of the King.
"We would have to get the players fit first as they have been away from the field for many days now," he said.
The team will be training at the Kirin Valley in Khaoyai until Nov 13 and will have one practice session at Rajamangala the following day.