Funds approved to renovate 3 stadiums

Funds approved to renovate 3 stadiums

A view of Bangkok's Rajamangala National Stadium.
A view of Bangkok's Rajamangala National Stadium.

The Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) has approved a budget of 571 million baht for the renovation of three stadiums selected for use during the 2020 AFC U23 Championship finals.

Thailand will host the 16-nation final phase of the Asian tournament from Jan 8 to 26.

In February, a team of Asian Football Confederation (AFC) officials was invited by the Football Association of Thailand (FAT) to select four stadiums for the competition.

The visiting AFC penal had recommended certain improvements to the three venues they approved.

The selected venues are Rajamangala National Stadium, the 700th Anniversary Stadium in Chiang Mai and His Majesty the King's 80th Birthday Anniversary Stadium in Nakhon Ratchasima.

The fourth venue for the competition is still under consideration with Thammasat Stadium, SCG Stadium, Leo Stadium and Songkhla's Tinsulanonda Stadium being evaluated by the AFC.

Yesterday, there was a meeting of the SAT board, which was chaired by deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan, who is also the chairman of the Thai Olympic Committee.

The meeting approved the use of the SAT funds in reserve to renovate the three stadiums which have already been confirmed to serve as the venues for the 2020 AFC U23 Championship games.

At the moment, the capacity of Rajamangala Stadium is 49,722 seats, while the 700th Anniversary Stadium in Chiang Mai has 25,000 seats, the same as His Majesty the King's 80th Birthday Anniversary Stadium.

Meanwhile, two representatives of the Uruguayan Football Association (UFA) were so impressed with Thai playmaker Chanathip Songkrasin's performance in the recently concluded China Cup that they personally sought the Consadole Sapporo star's jersey.

Mathius Faral and Aldo Joya, among the top officials accompanying the Uruguay team who won the four-nation event on Monday in Nanning, both met the Thailand midfielder and appreciated his performance in the Chinese city.

"I didn't know who they were but was told that they were from the Uruguay Football Association and wanted my jersey. They told me that I am a good player and I felt really happy about that."

Chanathip scored against China as the War Elephants defeated the hosts. The Thais lost the title showdown to Uruguay 4-0.

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