Colombia wooed for Thai trip
NCPO plans to give away tickets for free for November match to bring happiness to people
>> The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) wants to ‘give happiness to the Thai people’ by bringing Colombia to play a friendly in Thailand later this year, officials said yesterday.
Suwat Sidthilaw, permanent secretary for tourism and sports, said the NCPO had initiated a project to bring a world-class football team to play an exhibition match in Thailand.
“We have contacted the Colombian national team to play in Thailand,” he said.
“We have chosen Colombia because they are one of the top teams in the world and played well at this year’s World Cup in Brazil where they reached the quarter-finals. They should be available on Nov 16.”
Fifa has set the date for national teams around the world to play qualifying or warm-up matches.
“The Football Association of Thailand says Colombia are likely to give a reply next week,” Suwat added. “They have several stars particularly James Rodriguez [of Real Madrid] and Radamel Falcao [of Manchester United].”
Suwat admitted that if the duo could not come to Thailand, the match would be less attractive.
Midfielder Rodriguez was the top scorer at the 2014 World Cup, while Falcao is regarded as one of the most lethal strikers.
If Colombia turn down the offer, then Argentina and the Netherlands would be approached, Suwat said.
The organising cost is in the region of 100 million baht, and the Sports Authority of Thailand would be responsible for 60 million baht, he said.
About 20,000 tickets would be given away for free and the rest would be on sale at a low price, Suwat said.
In Beijing, a youthful China overcame a missed first-half penalty to fight back strongly and beat Kuwait 3-1 in a friendly match between two Asian Cup qualifiers on Thursday.
China striker Gao Lin was guilty of missing the 36th minute spot kick after his shot was well saved by Nawaf Al Khaldi diving away to his right.
The keeper added further good stops in the first period which looked to finish goalless only for the Kuwaitis to snatch the lead in stoppage time when Khaled Hajiah headed home an outswinging corner.
China improved after the break in Anshan and were level in the 53rd minute when striker Yang Xu turned under pressure in the box and fired a low shot through the legs of Al Khaldi, who should have done better.
The experienced Al Khaldi was again culpable as China took the lead 11 minutes later when Guangzhou Evergrande midfielder Yu Hanchao fired home after the goalkeeper failed to get distance on his punch.
China’s Ren Hang was dismissed with 15 minutes remaining after picking up his second yellow card but Alain Perrin’s young side wrapped up the victory in the 90th minute.
Wu Lei took advantage of some poor defensive work to slot a low effort past Al Khaldi in a match between two sides that failed to get out of Group A in the last Asian Cup in 2011.