INSIDE STORY

Successful national team earns support

WANCHAI RUJAWONGSANTI

Thai football authorities can no longer complain that local fans do not support their own national side and are only interested in European clubs like Manchester United.

The fact that Supachalasai stadium was fully packed to its capacity of 40,000 on Sunday when Thailand took on Vietnam in the semi-final second leg of the Asean Championship (formerly Tiger Cup) proved that Thais still loved their national team.

The match ended at around 9pm when the Chelsea v Nottingham Forest FA Cup fourth round clash was being televised live.

The two sides are quite popular in Thailand and most of the fans at Supachalasai would have missed at least the opening stages of FA Cup action.

It proves that if the national team play well, fans will come out in their droves to cheer them.

The lack of public support in the past was just a result of the national side's unimpressive performances.

Last month's King's Cup, which was won by Thailand, also saw considerable crowds at the stadium as did the first round of the Asean Championship earlier this month.

It was the first time for more than a decade that Supachalasai stadium enjoyed a full house in a match involving the Thai national team in an international competition.

As far as I can remember, the previous time the stadium was packed to its capacity was when Thailand, led by star striker Piyapong Pue-on, faced Denmark, who featured a Laudrup brother, in the King's Cup around 20 years ago.

That game saw spectators spill on to the touchline and it took officials quite a long time to keep the crowd in order before the match could start.

The recall to the national side of "old ginger" is a key to Thailand's success.

Captain Kiatisak "Zico" Senamuang selection has helped the return of fans to the stadium in the King's Cup and Asean Championship.

In his 30s, striker Kiatisak is not as good as he was a few years ago and looks out of steam late in a game. But his experience and skill are invaluable and he is still one of the most popular players among Thai fans.

Unfortunately, Kiatisak will miss both final matches due to a leg injury.

In Sunday's match, local supporters were disappointed that Thailand failed to finish off the Vietnamese in a scoreless draw, although the Thais go through to the final thanks to their 2-0 win in the first leg in Hanoi.

Thailand will meet Singapore in the two-legged final with Singapore receiving Thailand in the first leg tonight and Thailand playing host on Sunday in the return match.

The tie gets extra spice due to the sour relations between the two countries and Singapore will also be eager to avenge their defeat by Thailand that was inflicted in the King's Cup.

Thailand will be under intense pressure from the home crowd today at the island state's National Stadium which is expected to be packed to its capacity of 55,000.

No matter what the result of the first leg is, we are likely to see another full house at Supachalasai on Sunday partly because of the political situation between Thailand and Singapore.

Supachalasai may be old but looks a better stadium for a Thailand match than Rajamangala, which is sometimes too big with its capacity of 65,000.

It is easier to go to Supachalasai which is downtown and a few steps from a BTS station. On the other hand, traffic in the Ramkhamhaeng area where Rajamangala is situated is among the worst in Bangkok.

Thai officials were worried that they could be embarrassed by small crowds at Rajamangala when Thailand host one of the first round group of the Asian Cup finals in July.

But they should feel a bit relieved now that the national side have seemingly won back faith from fans.

Those fans are likely to go to the stadium to see how Thailand fare against formidable opponents - Australia, Iraq and Oman.

Bangkok Post
Wednesday January 31, 2007