Thai football sees a break in the clouds

Thai football sees a break in the clouds

FAT president Somyot's exhortations to dream big have revitalised the game in the country

The year, which is drawing to a close, was a mixed bag for Thai football.

There were unexpected highs and unavoidable lows, but there is growing optimism among the lovers of the game in the Kingdom that it is headed in the right direction.

The Football Association of Thailand (FAT) wears a different look and its president Pol Gen Somyot Poompunmuang is increasingly showing a knack for making tough but right decisions.

Here is a look at the important events that defined Thai football in 2017.

Coach Kiatisak Senamuang during Thailand's World Cup qualifying match against Saudi Arabia. Pattarapong Chatpattarasill Pattarapong Chatpattarasill

ZICO'S FALL

The first high-profile casualty of Somyot's ruthless drive to bring about a positive change was no one else but national team coach Kiatisak Senamuang, the former pin-up boy nicknamed "Zico".

Kiatisak was barely a month into his new contract with the FAT in March when the War Elephants were steamrolled 3-0 by Saudi Arabia in Bangkok and thrashed 4-0 by Japan in Saitama in the final Asian qualifying round Group B battles for places at the 2018 World Cup Finals in Russia.

The results lent Somyot the fodder he had been looking for.

He said: "Should we be satisfied with winning the Suzuki Cup and the SEA Games? And then when we play against the real top teams in Asia we lose 3-0 or 4-0. Are the fans OK with it?

"Maybe some people are fine with that, but for me it's embarrassing. I can't and I won't accept these results. Something needs to be done."

Kiatisak preferred to shut down the rumour mills rather than provide grist to it.

"I'd like to thank everyone for all the moral support given to me during the past four to five years when I had the highest honour of working as coach of the Thai national team," Kiatisak posted on his Instagram on March 31.

"Today I announce the end of my role as coach of the Thai national team."

Kiatisak later became coach of Thai League 1 side Port but quit after a few months following the club's poor results.

Milovan Rajevac at his first conference as coach of the national team. Pattarapong Chatpattarasill Pattarapong Chatpattarasill

RISE OF RAJEVAC

The FAT's decision to bring in Serb veteran Milovan Rajevac as a replacement for the popular Kiatisak was a masterstroke as he has delivered some satisfactory results and isn't costing the association as much as his predecessor did.

Rajevac, who took Ghana to the 2010 World Cup quarter-finals, proved his worth in a short time by making the Thais look more organised and harder to break down.

The results could have been better if Rajevac had the services of the stars who played key roles in the Thai squad under Kiatisak and if the team's strikers did not shy away from pouncing on number of scoring opportunities in almost every game.

After a 2-0 loss in an away friendly to Uzbekistan in their first game under Rajevac, Thailand were held 1-1 by the United Arab Emirates in Bangkok, lost to Iraq 2-1 at home and restricted mighty Australia to a 2-1 win in Melbourne in their remaining three matches of the World Cup qualifying campaign.

Rajevac wasn't exactly able to reverse the fortunes but he did manage to steer the War Elephants to their 15th title at the prestigious King's Cup, which involved strong teams such as Burkina Faso, North Korea and Belarus.

There were more cheers for the 63-year-old Serb as he brought the senior national team's yearly commitments to an promising end with victories over Myanmar and Kenya in friendly matches.

Overall, Rajevac's Thailand played eight games with four wins, one draw and three losses.

The FAT only gave Rajevac a one-year contract and has not yet decided whether to extend it.

Thai players and officials celebrate winning the King's Cup at Rajamangala National Stadium. Pattarapong Chatpattarasill Pattarapong Chatpattarasill

KINGS OF ASEAN

Although Thailand lost the overall SEA Games title to hosts Malaysia in August, they returned home with something to cherish -- the coveted men's football gold medal.

A stuttering performance in the opening match ended in a 1-1 draw with Indonesia, but the Thais eventually turned hot late and topped the Group B standings, eliminating arch-rivals Vietnam in the process.

Though Thailand were impressive in their semi-final victory over Myanmar, not many gave them a chance of beating Malaysia in the hotblooded final in Kuala Lumpur.

Thai coach Worrawoot Srimaka, widely chastised for the team's lacklustre show in the Games, was quick to hit back at his critics, declaring "I did it", soon after his men retained their title thanks to an own-goal by Malaysia goalkeeper Haziq Nadzli.

The men's football event at the 2017 SEA Games was limited to under-22 players.

Earlier the same Thai team made it to the AFC U23 Championship Finals by finishing second behind Malaysia in Group H. The two other sides in the group were Mongolia and Indonesia.

The Finals of the 16-team AFC U23 Championship will take place next month in China, where Thailand play Japan, North Korea and Palestine in the first round.

After the SEA Games triumph, Worrawoot stepped down as coach of the U23 side to make way for Rajevac's assistant Zoran Jankovic.

Under Jankovic, the Thais finished fourth in the M-150 Cup in Buri Ram, a warm-up event for the AFC U23 Championship, this month, but recorded a historic victory over Japan in the first round.

Buriram United reclaim the Thai League 1 title. บุรีรัมย์ ยูไนเต็ด แชมป์โตโยต้า ไทยลีก 2017

THUNDER STRIKE BACK

On the local scene, it was the resurgence of Buriram United that made the headlines.

They entered the 2017 season with a resolve to "Strike Back" and wrest the Thai League 1 title from bitter rivals SCG Muang Thong United and they accomplished the mission in a great fashion.

The Thunder Castle lifted the Thai League 1 trophy for a record fifth time with two games to spare.

There was more in store from the northeastern giants.

As the curtain fell on this year's top league, Buriram ended with a record 86 points from 34 matches -- one better than their previous mark set in 2011.

Muang Thong finished a distant second as they failed miserably in their bid to retain the title.

However, not everything went well for Buriram and things did not go worse for Muang Thong.

The Kirins were able to enlist themselves among the trophy winners in 2017 by claiming the League Cup.

Chiang Rai United won the FA Cup, ensuring that Buriram did not realise their dream of sweeping all three domestic titles.

National police chief Chakthip Chaijinda, left, and FAT boss Somyot Poompunmuang at last month's press conference to announce the arrest of match-fixing suspects. Patipat Janthong

MATCH-FIXERS IN A FIX

Authorities lifted the lid on a scandal in which some top flight players, referees and a club director were among a dozen people accused of "receiving money or benefits in order to throw a game" or influencing others to throw a game or manipulate the score.

This was announced at last month's press conference jointly addressed by national police chief Chakthip Chaijinda and his predecessor Pol Gen Somyot.

All those involved were arrested but released on bail and at least four Thai League 1 matches of the 2017 season were reportedly fixed, according to Chakthip.

Of the five players named in the case, four are from Thai League 1 side Navy -- Suttipong Laoporn, Narong Wongthongkum, Suvithaya Numsinlark and Seksan Chaothonglang. The fifth is Veera Kerdputsa, goalkeeper of T1 club Nakhon Ratchasima.

Authorities caught wind of the scandal in part after an unusual number of last minute goals involving Nakhon Ratchasima were reported.

Both teams finished in the lower half of the league, but were not relegated.

A referee, a linesman and a director at relegated Si Sa Ket are also accused of match fixing along with four Thai "investors" with overseas links.

"This is a historic case," Pol Gen Chakthip said at the news conference.

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