THUNDER CASTLE SET TO R
The renamed top flight of Thai football starts today with no contenders seemingly capable of wresting the title from the clutches of Buriram United, writes Tor Chittinand
The 2016 national league season kicks off today with a new name and a new management team but with an old horse being the outright title favourite. After being elected to succeed Worawi Makudi as president of the Football Association of Thailand (FAT) last month, Pol Gen Somyot Poompunmuang has changed the name of the company that runs the local league from Thai Premier League Co (TPL) to Premier League of Thailand Co (PLT).
The PLT is chaired by national police chief Chakthip Chaijinda.
Also, the top flight has been renamed the Toyota Thai League from the Toyota Thai Premier League.
The previous administration initially wanted to expand the league from 18 to 20 teams but later made a U-turn.
Once a powerhouse, BEC Tero Sasana were relegated from the top tier at the end of last season.
However, the Fire Dragons escaped the drop as Saraburi voluntarily took a break from the competition for the lack of funds and promoted side Police United were suspended because of financial problems.
USUAL SUSPECTS
Since the top flight in the current format was introduced in 2009, only two teams have won the title — Buriram United (four) and SCG Muang Thong United (three).
Buriram comfortably bagged the title last year to become the first team to have been crowned champions three times in a row and also the first to have lifted the trophy on four occasions.
Last year, the Thunder Castle completed a sweep of three major domestic competitions as they also captured the FA Cup and League Cup.
Buriram, buttressed by new players, are favourites to retain the league crown.
They have brought in Adul Lasoh, Sathaporn Dangsri, Anan Buasang and Nattapon Malaphan as well as Brazilianborn Japanese Kaio Filippe Goncalves and South Korea’s Kim Seung-Yong, a close friend and compatriot of their attacking midfielder Ko Seul-Ki.
Their key players include Brazilian striker Diogo Luis Santo, who scored 45 goals in all competitions last season, captain Suchao Nutnum, Teerathon Bunmathan, Jakkraphan Kaewprom and Venezuela defender Andres Tunez.
But the Thunder Castle could struggle at the start of the season as new players would need time to gel with their teammates.
Although they thumped Muang Thong 3-1 in the curtain-raising King’s Trophy match, they have since suffered humiliating setbacks in their first two Group F matches of the AFC Champions League.
A 6-0 home loss to FC Seoul last week was followed by a 3-0 defeat at China’s Shandong Luneng in midweek.
Buriram will also have to cope with life without Diogo, who could be out of action for up to three months due to a shoulder injury, and his strike partner Gilberto Macena, who has moved to Saudi Arabia.
But Buriram chairman Newin Chidchob remains confident that his team will successfully defend the title.
“Our aim is to win all competitions particularly the league. We want to win the league for the fourth time in a row. I am confident that we can do it because no team is good enough to dethrone us,” he said.
“We will only be competing with ourselves — getting more points and scoring more goals than we did in the previous season.”
While Muang Thong are widely considered second favourites who are capable of ending Buriram’s winning run, Newin sees Bangkok United as the best team — for the runners-up spot. He said Macedonian forward Mario Gjurovski, who has moved to Bangkok United from Muang Thong, will help make the capital side stronger.
“The race for the second, third and fourth places will be interesting,” Newin said.
Buriram’s bitter rivals Muang Thong have failed to win any title in the past three seasons but they believe this will be their year.
The Kirins have a new coach in Totchtawan Sripan and have signed five Thailand internationals from BEC Tero Sasana — Chanathip ‘Messi Jay’ Songkrasin, Peerapat Notechaiya, Tanaboon Ketsarat, Adisak Kraisorn and Tristan Do.
Muang Thong, who were runners-up in the league and FA Cup last season, have also brought in two Brazilians, striker Junior Negrao and defender Fabricio Silva.
Fabricio played at the U20 World Cup in 2009 when Brazil finished second.
The duo join the likes of Brazilian forward Cleiton Silva, Thailand striker Teerasil Dangda, Datsakorn Thonglao, Sarach Yooyen and Kawin Thamsatchanan at Muang Thong.
With the arrivals of several new players, the Kirins have proclaimed themselves the ‘Dream Team’.
“We were second in the league and FA Cup and that was not enough for us. Our target this season is to win all competitions we play in,” said Muang Thong chairman Pongsak Pholanan.
But the ‘Dream Team’ had unconvincing results in pre-season matches.
They could only beat Myanmar’s Yangon United on penalties and lost 3-0 at Shanghai SIPG in the AFC Champions League play-offs, and were defeated 3-1 by Buriram in the King’s Trophy match.
DARK HORSES
Chonburi, who were fourth last season, have often been seen as contenders but have failed to deliver so far. They came close to dethroning Buriram two years ago only to run out of steam in the final stretch.
Chonburi, one of the best organised clubs, have a new manager in their veteran midfielder Therdsak Chaiman, who could not have asked for a worse start to his coaching career when the Sharks were massacred 9-0 by FC Tokyo in the AFC Champions League play-offs.
But on the local front, with players like captain Chonlatit Jantakam, Suttinun Phukhom, Korrakot Wiriyaudomsiri, Kroekrit Taweekarn and Nurul Sriyankem, Chonburi can beat any team on their day.
They have signed a handful of new players including Narong Chansawek, Panupong Polsa, Prakit Deeprom, Naruepol Arom-sawa, Pokklaw A-Nan, and Rodrigo Vergillio.
However, their performance could be affected by the departure of three key players, goalkeeper Sinthaweechai Hathairattanakool, forward Adul Lasoh and striker Thiago Cunha.
Backed by True Corporation, Bangkok United could not be underestimated as well.
Bangkok United have moved to their new home ground, Thammasat Stadium, from Thai-Japanese Youth Centre (ThaiJapanese stadium).
Mano Polking remains the coach of the team and he would now have the services of
two big-name players, forwards Teerathep Winothai and Gjurovski, at his disposal.
Suphanburi finished third last season but were not allowed to take part in the AFC Champions League play-offs because their stadium failed to meet the standards set by the continental governing body.
They are expected to return with a vengeance this season with the arrivals of Rattana Petch-arporn, Wasan Homsang, Sinthaweechai, Tinnakorn Asurin, Rangsan Viwatchaichok and Phaeton Nontadee further bolstering their squad.
Thailand midfielder Charyl Chappuis, who is hugely popular among female fans, is expected to come back after a long-term injury lay-off.
Suphanburi got off to a fast start season with seven wins in a row but could not last the distance.
Like Suphanburi, Bangkok Glass were also fast off the blocks but soon became also-rans.
Anurak Srikerd has been promoted to become Bangkok Glass full-time coach after serving in a caretaker role last season.
The Glass Rabbits have signed several new players including Lazarus Kaimbi, Andres Rodriguez, Wallop Sae-jiew, Sarawut Masuk, Surachart Sareepim and Chalermkiat Sombutpan.
Daniel Garcia Rodriguez, Narit Taweekul, Peerapong Pichitchotirat, Darko Tasevski and Thanasit Siriphala remain with the team.
The Rabbits lost to Muang Thong on penalties in the recent Leo Pre-season Cup tournament.
RELEGATION CONTENDERS
Newcomers Sukhothai, BBCU and Pattaya United are favourites to go down to Leauge One as are BEC Tero Sasana.
Coached by Branko Smilijanic, BEC still have some good players including goalkeeper Somporn Yos, Adisorn Promrak, Apichate Puttan and Chenrop Samphaodi.
But with the departure of five Thailand internationals to Muang Thong, the Fire Dragons are expected to fight for relegation instead of the title.
Their new players include Suriya Singmui, Chainarong Tathong, Chananan Pombupha, Anuwat Inyin, Poomin Kaewta, Milan Bubalo, Milos Bosancic and Sreten Sretenovic.
The other teams are also considered makeweights and they are Army United, Osotspa, Navy, Chiang Rai United, Ratchaburi, Si Sa Ket, Chainat and Nakhon Ratchasima.
REFEREEING PROBLEMS
New FAT president Somyot has made it clear that he will fight against corruption and improve referees’ standards.
Soon after his election win, he appointed himself as chairman of the referees’ committee and named Pol Gen Chakthip, his successor as national police chief, as TLP boss.
An FAT official said Chakthip’s role will be to help fight against corruption.
Somyot witnessed some refereeing problems in the King’s Trophy match on Feb 20 when Buriram United defeated bitter rivals SCG Muang Thong United 3-1 in a game which was marred by some substandard officiating.
The FAT president reacted by suspending match referee Thiteechai Nuanjan and his two assistants indefinitely and initiating an investigation.
“We will concentrate on four things. We will help educate the referees in rules and regulations and improve their physical fitness and performance. Most importantly, we will improve their livelihoods so that they don’t resort to wrong means to make money,” he said this week.
The draw of lots to assign referees to matches, a method initiated by the previous administration in an attempt to wipe out corruption but to no avail, will be scrapped.
“It is useless. We will have a team of experts to pick referees for matches,” Somyot said.