SICK AS A PARROT'S DOG
While all the major European football leagues are kicking off to the usual fanfare, something is rotten in the state of Thai football. Find out why here…
The fact that old monkey head, Peter Reid, sees the role of assistant manager at Stoke City as more appealing than the head coach’s position of the Thai national team shows just how great the divide between English and Thai football remains.
Just one year into a four-year contract as head coach of the national team, Peter Reid has decided to jump the lumbering lugger of Thai football for the Premiership of England – albeit as nothing more than first mate on an unfashionable ferry.
Just as with Thailand’s fledgling democracy, football in the Kingdom is still some way behind its European counterparts – and for much the same reasons. Corruption, incompetence, egotism and the lack of a long-term vision are all obstacles to progression.
The Thai national team may be well established as the powerhouse of South-East Asian football but, with the exception of one flirtatious World Cup qualifying campaign under Peter Withe’s stewardship, this little fish has failed miserably to make so much as a ripple in the bigger pond of pan-Asian football.
To even the most casual of observers, Thai football has been screaming out for a strong domestic league for several years, yet it took threats from the Asian Football League (AFL) to prompt the formation of the Thai Premier League in 2009.
While it has been an improvement on the old Bangkok and provincial leagues, the Thai Premier League still has a long way to go before it is even strong enough to compete with the domestic leagues of Malaysia, Vietnam and Singapore.
A handful of teams from outside of Bangkok have been invited into the competition, but it is still far from a true national league and has thus largely failed to tap into Thais’ undoubted passion for football.
It is no surprise that the most successful teams have been the ones who have built a sense of local identity that their fans can relate to – teams such as Chonburi FC and Muang Thong United. Fans have no affinity to teams that don’t have their own stadium or even their own community. Fans have no bond to teams called Bangkok Glass, Navy Rayong, Telephone Organization of Thailand (TOT) or Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA).
The Thai Premier League needs teams, games and rivalries that appeal to the fans by playing on local pride. When we see Korat Vs Udon Thani, Chiang Mai Vs Lampang or Hat Yai Vs Phuket, then we will see fans turning out in numbers to support their local team.
The recently formed Bangkok United FC is one team that has done its bit to rally local support, even taking out a series of ads in local media that included this alleged quote from Ivory Coast midfielder, Fofana Cheick Abib:
“I’ll fight for Bangkok United. I’m eager to help Bangkok United getting more success. I believe that I’m part of team more and more each match played with team fellow. And I will contribute my full ability for Bangkok United. So all Bangkok Hardcore could be happy with more victory we brought.”
It is far from clear whether the quote did actually come from the player himself or from the club’s PR team. What is beyond doubt is that, like the Thai Premier League itself, it is more comical than rousing.
Thais are truly passionate about their football, but until they have local teams that they can identify with, Stoke City will continue to be a bigger draw.
Paul Snowdon – August 30, 2009
Related Article: FAT Members Get Monkey Head
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Have your say...
kevin mcallion
31 Aug 2009, 06:48
A nice read, Mr Snowdown. Why did they change all the names? I heard there
was a team called Coke Bang but they had to change their name into some
corporate bollocks. Coke Bang is second only to Deportivo Wanka when it
comes to comically named teams.
Naked Farang
31 Aug 2009, 07:44
Kev: I seem to remember a team called "Eleven Men in Flight" when I was in
Kenya
Tom Stone
08 Oct 2009, 19:13
This is quite late to be replying but I went to watch my first Pattaya
United game on Wednesday.
I know it is very late in the season plus the pitch was wet due to alot of
rain fall. But, the standard of play was awful. Believe me, I am no snob, I
love amateur football because of the passion without pay checks...
Where is all of the talent? I understand that the best of the best will be
in Singapore/Malaysia earning more money than they would in Thailand but
surely there are better players in a country of similar population to the
UK.
I probably wont go to the remaining two games of this season but might
start again next, hoping that there will be a better, more organised game
of football to watch...
I don't mean to moan, just thought I would throw in my two cents,
Cheers
Tom
Naked Farang
08 Oct 2009, 19:24
Thanks, Tom. It was very interesting to read your first hand observations
about the state of Thai football. I was actually surprised to hear recently
that MT Utd had a crowd of around 20,000 thousand for their game with
Chonburi. How many would you estimate were at the Pattaya game?
You asked about the talent and mentioned the comparable size of the Thai
population to that of the UK. Well, I live in Bangkok and my son is almost
4 and loves football, but I have no idea where he could play football or be
coached when he grows older. Some of the schools play football, but the
standard of coaching is atrocious.
Naked Farang
Tom Stone
08 Oct 2009, 21:13
I think there was around 4000 people there. The ground isn't located in
Pattaya city but on the outskirts where most people in Pattaya do not
venture.
That is the problem. In Europe, there are so many clubs and levels for kids
to play at.
Something I have thought about doing in the past is setting up a small one
day a week training session. Firstly, my Thai has to improve and secondly,
there is the worry that too many Children turn up (because of the 'free'
element) and there is a limit to how many kids you can coach at once.
Tom Stone
08 Oct 2009, 21:27
What would be ideal was if there was some sort of junior league here in
Pattaya. I doubt there are many others who would be willing to give up
their free time and incur a small cost, just for the development of junior
football.
John Holt
24 Dec 2010, 11:45
Big improvements since the last post. More investment in the Thai League
system and Club Sponsorship. The average attendance at clubs has improved
and the Premier League is being televised. Pattaya United finished 6th at
the end of the 2010 season and a 20,000 capacity stadium is being built.
Ricky
30 Oct 2011, 14:02
Hi i am moving to Korat and would like to know where i could am semi pro
club or amateur club Thanks .
