True Pride of Thailand
The performances of the three Thai club representatives in Asian club competitions last week
immediately stirred three distinct feelings after each match concluded.
Those feelings were “joy, regret, and pride,” which I use to describe each team’s outcome.
Starting with “joy” from Buriram United’s penalty shootout victory, despite playing with 10 men from the first half,
they managed to hold Melbourne to a draw and then clinched the win in the shootout.
This allowed them to reach the ACL Elite quarterfinals for the second consecutive year.
They have already pocketed prize money exceeding 57 million baht.
Next came the feeling of “regret” regarding the golden opportunity for the “Dragon Kings” Ratchaburi FC.
They played at home in front of a record crowd of 9,862 fans who came to support them.
They fought back to equalize 1-1 against Japan’s J.League powerhouse Gamba Osaka early in the second half.
They even had chances to take the lead and advance but heartbreakingly missed penalty kicks.
Ultimately, the strong Samurai team scored a decisive goal during the 120 minutes of extra time,
knocking Ratchaburi out of the ACL2 quarterfinals, leaving the stadium filled with teary-eyed fans.
The feeling I must describe as “immense pride” belongs to True Bangkok United’s performance.
They twice took the lead against Singapore’s Tampines Rovers away, before a thrilling 2-2 draw.
With the aggregate score over two legs, the “Angels” made club and Thai football history for the first time.
They reached the AFC Champions League 2 (ACL2) semifinals with an outstanding and flawless performance.
I emphasize that this achievement fills the club and Thailand with exceptional pride, above all others.
This is because the core team Bangkok United fielded in each match
consisted almost entirely of genuine, original Thai players.
For example, in the latest game at Jalan Besar Stadium yesterday,
True Bangkok started seven Thai players in the first 11 across all positions.
This included goalkeeper Mike Patiwat Khammai,
defenders Manuel Tom Bihr, Jakkapan Praisuwan, and Wanchai Jarunongkran,
midfielders Veerathep Pomphan and Thitiphan Puangchan,
and veteran forward Teerasil Dangda, who scored the first goal sharply and impressively.
This truly represents “the pride of a Thai club” on the Asian stage, without exaggeration.
We must commend the steadfast policy of club president Big Khajorn Jeerawong.
Khajorn’s vision for building a professional team, which he has shared with me before, always emphasizes
his ultimate dream: to make True Bangkok United successful in Asian competitions
by relying almost entirely on "Made in Thailand" players as the core.
Ideally, this would include every position on the field.
He fully trusts the services of top Thai coach “Coach Ban” Thachathorn Sripan to lead the team.
Although at times results have dipped,
Bangkok United has continued to give the homegrown coach opportunities to adjust and tune the team back to standard.
Khajorn told me that if Thai players aren’t given chances to play,
he fears their future earnings and market value will diminish,
which would directly harm the development of players feeding into the Thai national team.
The total prize money Bangkok United has earned in Asian competitions now exceeds 31 million baht,
but that pales compared to the value gained by giving Thai players a chance to showcase their skills at the continental level.
In the next round, True Bangkok will face Gamba Osaka from Japan,
a club with a similar model that relies on domestic players as its core.
This approach has helped produce young stars who consistently take Japan to the World Cup.
The greatest pride for Thai clubs,
which fans here should be happiest about,
is seeing Thai players overcome various Asian opponents with full dignity.
That is what truly earns the title “True Pride of Thailand.”
- Bee Bangpakong -