Port’s chance to steal spotlight
Co-leaders hope to pounce on Ratchaburi’s woes, Buriram favourites to tame Chainat
>> It isn’t very often that Port are mentioned in the same breath as other perennial Thai League 1 title contenders, but this evening they could fancy a win over Ratchaburi that could set the tone for the rest of their season.
Port have found themselves in the unfamiliar position of top-flight leaders and their coach Jadet Meelarp has admitted to being under pressure ahead of their home game against Ratchaburi, who parted company with coach Christian Ziege on Thursday.
“We spent a lot of money in the offseason to restructure our team and now that we have reached the top, I feel under pressure,” said Jadet.
After two rounds of matches, Port are among the only three teams who have yet to drop any points after victories over Pattaya United and SCG Muang Thong United. The other two sides are defending champions Buriram United and Sukhothai.
However, Port assistant coach Weerayut bin Abdullohman said: “We have done very well in the past two matches, so our players are in good spirits. We are ready to face Ratchaburi and we will try our best to win the match.”
The Dragons have appointed Ziege’s assistant Somchai Maiwilai as the caretaker coach.
The former Germany defender left the team only after two league games — a 2-1 loss to Buriram and a 1-0 win over Air Force Central — because of family reasons.
Team manager Robert Procuerer admitted that it would be a tough game for his side and added: “We only hope to pick up a point.
“We won the last game but we still have problems in defence, while Port look very confident after claiming six points from two matches.”
Reports from Ratchaburi suggest that Procuerer’s close ties with Rene Desaeyere could help bring the veteran Belgian coach back to Thailand.
The 70-year-old Desaeyere has coached many leading clubs in the Kingdom, including last year’s runners-up Muang Thong United.
Buriram travel to promoted Chainat where they face a relatively easier task tomorrow after a couple of fighting victories over Ratchaburi and Bangkok Glass in their first two league games of the year.
Despite their discouraging 2-0 defeat to South Korea’s Jeju United in the AFC Champions League on Wednesday, Buriram should have little trouble in beating Chainat and holding on to the top spot at the end of this weekend.
Joint leaders Sukhothai are at Chonburi this evening and could expect an all-out effort from the struggling home team.
FIXTURES
Today 5.45pm — Chonburi v Sukhothai 6pm — Navy v Bangkok Glass
7pm — PT Prachuap v Pattaya United 8pm — Port v Ratchaburi
Tomorrow
6pm — Chainat v Buriram, Bangkok United v Suphanburi
7pm — Chiang Rai v Police Tero, Nakhon Ratchasima v Ubon UMT