As Thailand prepares to host the Fifa Futsal World Cup next month, the completion of the Bangkok Futsal Arena in Nong Chok is still a race against time.
The futsal venue in Nakhon Ratchasima. PRASIT TANGPRASERT
The Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Sports yesterday expressed concern over the new venue which is still under construction.
"If the Bangkok Futsal Arena is not completed on time, it will be a disaster for Thailand as a host country. We need to know as early as possible if the venue will be ready or not so that we can find the alternative," said Naruemon Siriwat during the meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Sports yesterday.
"I also think the tournament has not been promoted properly. The tournament is less than a month away and the public knows very little about it."
Meanwhile Worawi Makudi, president of the Football Association of Thailand, who was not at the meeting, spoke to journalists at the Sports Writers Association of Thailand and insisted there's nothing to worry about.
"Fifa representative has already inspected the venues and they told us everything will be finalised next week. If the Bangkok Futsal Arena is not ready, we still have three other venues for the tournament," said the FAT president.
The Fifa Futsal World Cup will be held in Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima between Nov 1-18. There are four venues for the tournament. Three are in Bangkok _ Nimibutr Gymnasium, Hua Mark Indoor stadium and Bangkok Futsal Arena _ and one in Nakhon Ratchasima _ the Chart Chai Hall.