FROM BURIRAM’S DOMINATION TO BEC’S RELEGATION
The year 2015 saw a team from the northeast take the national football scene by storm, toy with Thai Premier League records and claim unmatched conquests, writes Wanchai Rujawongsanti
Buriram United reigned supreme again in the 2015 Thai Premier League season which ended on Sunday. Having retained the crown with three matches to spare, the Thunder Castle ended the campaign 13 points ahead of bitter rivals SCG Muang Thong United. Suphanburi were third and Chonburi fourth after the Sharks suffered a shock 3-0 home loss to Saraburi in the final match.
At the other end of the table, Port (33 points) and BEC Tero Sasana (35) went down to League One along with TOT who collected only 16 points from 34 matches and had been relegated several weeks ago.
BURIRAM ENCORE
After a slow start to the season, Buriram shifted to another gear after they were eliminated from the AFC Champions League.
The Thunder Castle remained unbeaten with 84 points from 25 wins and nine draws.
They became the first team to win the title four times and also the first to claim the crown three seasons in a row in the new-look TPL which was launched in 2009.
Buriram are on course for a treble — a feat they have already achieved twice in 2011 and 2013 — after they won the TPL title to go with the League Cup and will face Muang Thong in the FA Cup final on Dec 26.
Indeed, Buriram chairman Newin Chidchob wants his team to win five trophies this season.
They won the King’s Trophy match, the season’s curtain-raiser which pits the league champions against the FA Cup winners in the mould of England’s Community Shield game.
Buriram also take on Boeung Ket Angkor from Cambodia in the Mekhong Cup final at Bangkok’s Supachalasai Stadium tomorrow.
“We want fans to celebrate with five trophies in our New Year’s Eve party [at I-Mobile Stadium,” said Newin.
One of the keys to their success this season has been the impressive performances of most of their new signings including Thailand defender Narubodin Weerawatnodom, Brazilian duo Diogo Luis Santo and Gilberto Macena, and South Korean midfielder Go Seul-ki.
Forwards Diogo and Macena have formed a lethal partnership with the former scoring a TPL record 33 goals which beat the previous mark of 26 goals in one season set by Heberty Fernandes last year.
Macena netted 18 league goals as he and Diogo had a combined 51 league goals — more than half of the whole team’s 98 goals.
The 98 goal tally was also a new record in one season, beating the previous scoring feat of 78 goals set by Muang Thong in 2012.
Buriram were quick to strengthen the team as they have signed two midfielders, Thailand international Adul Lasoh and Brazilian Andre Moritz.
FALLING GIANTS
The future looked bright for BEC after they won the League Cup last season — their first trophy for years.
But in this case, success did not breed success as BEC, with several Thailand internationals including Chanathip ‘Messi Jay’ Songkrasin, Adisak Kraisorn and Tristan Do, struggled from the start of the 2015 season.
They sacked three coaches — Bozidar Bandovic, Kenny Shiels and Manuel Cajuda — and club captain Rangsan Viwatchaichok was appointed caretaker boss with three matches remaining.
Inexperienced Rangsan did a good job as BEC got three results — a 2-1 win at Muang Thong, a 1-1 draw at home to Buriram and a 5-0 rout of Chiang Rai.
But it was too little too late and BEC, one of the richest Thai clubs, were relegated from the top flight for the first time in their history.
BEC, managed by the group that runs TV Channel 3, finished the season level on points with Saraburi and Navy.
However, BEC had the worst results against Navy and Saraburi in a mini-league tie-breaker.
BEC refuse to accept the setback and hope to win off the pitch to remain in the top league.
They have filed a suit with the Administrative Court as they complain that they should get three points from their 1-0 home loss to Bangkok United.
BEC argue that Bangkok United used more than the permitted number of foreign players.
The TPL initially agreed and awarded BEC a 3-0 win. However, a TPL appeal committee reserved the decision and the original result stands.
The court is expected to make a ruling next week as BEC have also referred the matter to Fifa.
“We are doing the right thing,’’ said BEC manager Thanya Wongnak.
If the court rules in favour of BEC, Saraburi would be relegated. Saraburi have said they would accept the court’s verdict and would not take legal action.
Thanya has said if BEC lose appeals with the Administrative Court and Fifa they will take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Nualphan Lamsam, manager of the national women’s team, invested in Port FC earlier this year with ownership in the club still belonging to the Port Authority of Thailand.
She changed the club’s crest from a lion to a horse and their nickname from Port Lions to Port Horses.
Nualphan has Chinese blood and she might be a believer of the Chinese saying that goes “horses bring success.”
Port, once a powerhouse in local football, were far from being a galloping horse and will be playing in League One again after their spell in the lower league in 2013.
Nualphan has begun rebuilding a team good enough to make a quick return to the top flight.
She has signed Brazilian-born Timor Leste international Thiago Cunha, one of the most dangerous strikers in Thailand, from Chonburi.
SUPHANBURI APPEAL
Currently, the TPL champions earn a direct entry to the AFC Champions League group stage while the TPL runners-up and FA Cup champions get berths in the ACL play-offs.
With TPL champions Buriram and runners-up Muang Thong to meet in the FA Cup final, the ACL slot for the FA Cup champions goes to the TPL third-placed side.
However, Suphanburi were disqualified because their stadium failed to meet the standards set by the continental football’s governing body.
The AFC has informed Chonburi, the TPL fourthplaced team, that they will play in the ACL play-offs instead of Suphanburi.
Suphanburi insist that they can improve their stadium in time for the ACL play-offs scheduled for February.
Heeding their call, the Football Association of Thailand has lodged an appeal with the AFC for Suphanburi to get their right to play in the continental club championship.