An interview with Coach Ban Thachathawan Sripan about his approach of primarily using Thai players has sparked widespread debate.
There are both supporters and opponents, which is normal since every coin has two sides.
Personally, I’m still puzzled by the drama around Coach Ban—why the controversy when this concept actually benefits Thai football?
Okay, football aims for results, but being eliminated in the ACL Champions League Two semifinals is nothing to be disappointed about.
The "Kaeo Thep" have come this far, which already makes history for the club.
It's even more admirable that True Bangkok United relies on Thai players as their core to compete against Asian-level opponents.
Don’t compare them to Buriram United in the ACL Champions League Elite, because they are different tournaments with different contexts and factors.
I must emphasize this because I’m tired of the drama. Praising "Kaeo Thep" somehow gets twisted into criticizing "Prasat Saifa".
Those who understand football won’t see it as a comparison since the two clubs are in different situations.
Buriram United competes in Asia’s biggest tournament, which offers huge prize money.
Every club invests heavily because the returns per match make the gamble worthwhile.
Allowing unlimited foreign player slots is why many clubs spend big to sign reinforcements.
At the "Elite" level, facing only top-tier opponents, Buriram United, fully equipped, dares to invest heavily and compete.
The club’s goal is to be among Asia’s top five, so "Prasat Saifa" does not hold back and pushes full throttle.
Buriram United has the financial resources and readiness, thus a large squad to compete domestically and abroad.
Using foreign players as the core in Asian tournaments is not wrong nor deserving of criticism.
Even if Buriram United fields 11 foreign players, fans still support a Thai club.
But when more Thai players appear in some matches, Thai fans feel happier and more proud.
Meanwhile, True Bangkok United plays in the secondary "ACL Two" tournament, which has a lower standard than the "Elite" level, so the competition isn’t as fierce.
Importantly, "Kaeo Thep" don’t have the huge budget like Buriram United, so their investment differs.
Coach Ban understands these surrounding factors but prioritizes "building a team".
This approach isn’t new since reaching the Asian semifinals; Coach Ban has spoken and acted this way for years.
In private talks, Coach Ban’s message is about building a team to compete tactically, not just spending money to buy foreign players.
Therefore, "Kaeo Thep"’s emphasis on using Thai players has been ongoing, aiming to strengthen the team’s approach.
Sure, some games may be dull or poor, but judging by results, Coach Ban has led the team to great heights in Asia.
Though eliminated, a new chapter in history has been written, especially as the first Thai club to beat a J-League team in Japan.
True Bangkok United uses Thai players mainly but managed to defeat a J-League club—that's a point of pride, not something to criticize after elimination.
A coach who builds Thai players to beat Japan deserves praise, not criticism.
While clubs aren’t national teams and don’t have to use many Thai players, having Thai players as a core benefits the Thai national team.
It’s important that people in Thai football seriously support this issue.
Today, Thai football tends to celebrate only the "top-level" achievements without considering the "foundation," which is crucial to the overall picture.
From what I’ve seen, many involved in Thai football support Coach Ban’s approach.
Because everyone cares about Thai football!!!
"Bubble"