New Thailand coach Akira Nishino has asked the Football Association of Thailand (FAT) to seal the national squad's training site in a bid to thwart Vietnamese spies from stealing team secrets.
The request from the Japanese coach came as the number of probables at the national training camp for next month's 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifying round battles swelled to 29 yesterday.
Eleven more players reported for encampment yesterday. They are Apirak Worawong, Ekanit Panya, Phitiwat Sukjitthummakul, Siwakorn Tietrakul and Shinnaphat Leeaoh (Chiang Rai United), Sarach Yooyen, Patcharapol Innthanee, Adisorn Prorak and Saringkhan Promsuphra (SCG Muang Thong United), Chatchai Budprom (BG Pathum United) and Korraphat Nareechan (Khon Kaen FC).
Foreign-based Thai stars -- Kawin Thamsatchanan, Theerathon Bunmathan, Chanathip Songkrasin and Thitiphan Puangjan -- are scheduled to join the team on Sept 2.
Nishino was yesterday quoted as saying that it was important to keep other teams from learning about the tactics of the War Elephants who are training at Bangkok's Le Meridien Suvarnabhumi hotel.
The Japanese coach has picked an initial squad of 33 players which will be trimmed to 23.
Thailand play Vietnam on Sept 5 at home before taking on Indonesia in an away game on Sept 10. The other two teams in Group G are the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia.
Nishino received high praise from Vietnam coach Park Hang-Seo, with the South Korean quoted as saying: "I know Nishino quite well. He led teams in the J1 League.
"When he was still a player, Nishino was also considered a promising player.
"He is a good coach but one thing to mention is that he has never led any team to compete in the World Cup qualifiers."
Nishino took charge of the Japanese national side just before the 2018 World Cup in Russia where he steered the Samurai Blue to the last 16 round.
Asked about Park yesterday, Nishino said: "We know each other well. He is a good coach."
Meanwhile, the FAT yesterday appointed Pinijsorn Luechaikajohnpan as the new director of the Thai national team.