The choice for the inaugural "Returning Happiness to the Thai People Award" is clear. And the winner is not Prayut Chan-o-cha.
Kiatisak "Zico" Senamuang is getting deserved praise for leading the Thai national team to victory in last week's AFF Suzuki Cup final over Malaysia.
The army chief-turned-premier was a strong favourite to grab the title, but at the last minute he had to stand aside and let another man take centre stage. This is not Gen Prayut's time. This is Zico's time.
Kiatisak "Zico" Senamuang fully deserves the credit and the praise for winning the award. The Thai national football coach has lived up to the award's exacting standards, while the man who was responsible for creating the name of the award has come up short this time.
Zico has restored the morale of the country's footballers who wear the War Elephants jersey. Those who watched the first leg of the AFF Suzuki Cup final at the Rajamangala National Stadium on Wednesday witnessed the young squad playing with teamwork and, more importantly, confidence.
At one point, they put in a Barcelona-like performance with accurate, quick passing while the Malaysian team could only watch with quiet desperation as the ball moved from one opponent to the other. It would have been better had the passes in the late second half of that match ended with another goal. It came close but the 2-0 result was enough to excite the fans at the packed stadium.
The return match at the Bukit Jalil Stadium in Malaysia on Saturday was even more impressive. The hosts led 3-0 deep into the second half and were on their way to grabbing the prized trophy with a 3-2 aggregate goal difference. The young Thais played in front of a packed stadium with almost 90,000 Malaysians cheering for the Tigers. The mission of the Malaysian side was almost accomplished. They were almost there.
The problem was, Zico's men were not ready to lie down, and kept their composure instead of panicking. Charyl Chappius then silenced the crowd to regain the advantage for the Thai team thanks to an away goal. Then Chanathip Songkrasin made sure the host team had no chance of a comeback when he scored Thailand's second goal of the match.
The game ended with Thailand losing 3-2, but the cumulative score was enough to see the Thai players take the Asean championship and the cup home for the first time in 12 years. Thai football fans have not seen their team playing like that in a two-leg match series for years. They have rarely seen their football stars playing like men possessed. In the past, they were more likely to throw in the towel if they went three goals behind.
Did Kiatisak bring some magic that turned things around for the Thai squad, which until he came along had lost the will to win, coming up short on the title front and seemingly having no appetite for chasing victory on the pitch?
Zico did not make miracles happen for the Thai team. What he did after being appointed as head coach was simple. He did what he believed in most — giving those young guns a run instead of relying on veterans when he formed his team. He gave them the opportunity and they returned the favour by bringing in a burning desire to win and energy to run at full-stretch for the 90 minutes on the field. That is what the football fans were looking forward to.
Gen Prayut should not be envious at seeing Zico overtake him as the man who has truly returned happiness to the Thai people. In fact, Kiatisak taught him one lesson — the formula of success. He went for change. He dumped veteran players and gave opportunities to the young and the hungry.
The former army chief promised good times ahead for the people when he seized power to end the political rift and the street violence. Seven months have passed and the prime minister has not made good on his promises.
A problem for Gen Prayut is his cabinet. He has filled it with too many bureaucrats including those fresh from retirement from the military instead of technocrats and more qualified people outside the barracks and bureaucracy. Those capable of running military camps and government agencies are not necessarily good enough to take up portfolios in the cabinet.
Change can come by bringing in more qualified persons who will bring fresh ideas and initiatives to move the country forward. Zico has done that on the football field. Government head coach Gen Prayut should follow that example.
Saritdet Marukatat is digital media news editor, Bangkok Post.