Thai team depart for Uzbekistan friendly
Thailand left for Almaty yesterday for an overnight stopover before heading into Tashkent for a friendly with Uzbekistan tomorrow, when new coach Milovan Rajevac will take charge of the national team’s dugout for the first time.
The Thai national team were to spend a night in Kazakhstan capital, where they were also scheduled to have a light training session.
Before their departure, Thailand’s assistant coach Sirisak Yodyathai, who is accompanying the team, said: “From the first day of the five-day training camp at home, Rajevac has tried to make the players learn new tactics.
“I think the players have learned quite a great deal in the past five days and Rajevac’s main focus has been on counter-attacks.”
Sirisak added: “We are going without the Muang Thong United players and it is a good opportunity for many players to prove themselves to Rajevac.
“We hope that the Thai football fans will support the players selected by Rajevac as everyone is looking forward to the national team’s upcoming matches.”
After tomorrow’s friendly with Uzbekistan in Tashkent, which will be televised live by Thai Rath TV at 8.30pm (Thai time), the national team will take on the United Arab Emirates in a 2018 World Cup qualifier at Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok.
In the 22-member national squad picked by Rajevac for the Tashkent friendly, there were no places for striker Teerasil Dangda, crafty playmaker Chanathip Songkrasin, goalkeeper Kawin Thamsatchanan and leftback Theerathon Bunmathan — all Muang Thong players.