If I recall correctly, this is likely the first time the Football Association of Thailand has live-streamed the appointment of the head coach of the Thai national futsal team.
This marks the comeback of “Coach Mee” Rakphon Sainetngam as head coach of the War Elephants’ futsal team for a second term.
He previously held this role five years ago.
He was tasked with leading the Thai futsal team to the 2021 Futsal World Cup finals in Lithuania.
He achieved the goal by guiding the team into the knockout round of 16.
Though his tenure lasted only a few months, essentially as an interim replacement for coach José María Pazos Mendes "Pulpis".
Pulpis left the Thai futsal team abruptly and without prior notice.
He is the third Thai coach in history to fully take charge of the senior national futsal team.
Following “Coach Noi” Bongkarn Promphuy, the first national futsal coach who led Thailand to their debut Futsal World Cup in Guatemala in 2000.
And “Coach Ae” Pattaya Piemkum, who became head coach of the War Elephants’ futsal team in 2007-2008.
Considering his credentials, achievements, and extensive coaching experience both domestically and internationally,
it must be admitted that “Coach Mee” is the most suitable person for the mission to restore faith in Thai futsal swiftly.
Especially after the painful loss of the SEA Games gold medal at home to Indonesia in the final match.
Many tend to underestimate Thai coaches, doubting their skills and knowledge compared to foreign coaches.
But I believe this is definitely not the case with Rakphon Sainetngam.
He has honed his high-level futsal expertise under top coaches like Pulpis and Miguel Rodrigo.
In 2017, Coach Mee made waves across Asia by leading Bluewave Chonburi to their second Asian club futsal championship.
In the final, the Sharks defeated Iran’s Giti Pasand 3-2, making him the first and only Thai coach to achieve this feat to date.
Then, in 2021, Coach Mee made history as the first Thai coach to lead Black Steel to win Indonesia’s futsal league championship in a grand fashion.
Two years later, he became the first Thai in 27 years to coach Malaysia’s national futsal team.
He achieved outstanding results by leading the Yellow Tigers to qualify for the AFC Futsal Asian Cup in 2024 and again in 2026.
His most recent achievement last year was guiding Malaysia to the bronze medal in men’s futsal at the 2025 SEA Games hosted by Thailand.
A highlight of that tournament was Malaysia’s 4-2 victory over Vietnam.
He then capped off the competition at the 2025 ASEAN U19 Futsal Championship held at the Nonthaburi Provincial Gymnasium.
As Malaysia’s head coach, Coach Mee led the young Yellow Tigers to a highly competitive semifinal match against Thailand U19.
The match was decided by penalty shootout after a 4-4 draw, with Thailand winning narrowly 8-7.
Malaysia finished an impressive third place in that tournament.
This was a key reason why “Big Pom” Adisak Benjasiriwan, Vice President of the Football Association of Thailand,
decided to bring “Coach Mee” Rakphon back to lead the Thai national futsal team this time, despite several foreign coach candidates.
They recognized his skills and potential to manage a national futsal team at a high level.
After accumulating six years of continuous international experience, he is now fully matured for this role.
This means Thailand will get a high-quality, homegrown futsal professional returning to help develop and elevate the sport.
Together, they aim to build a stable and truly sustainable future for Thai futsal.
This model mirrors Japan’s national futsal team, which now relies on coaches from their own country.
I am confident that with Coach Mee’s qualifications and maturity at this time,
he is ready to step up as a leader, or “Coach Mee”,
in whom we can place our full hopes and trust wholeheartedly!
- Bee Bangpakong -