Chanathip’s adventure begins
Star lands in Japan ready for loan spell
Thailand midfielder Chanathip Songkrasin arrived in Japan yesterday to play for Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo.
The 23-year-old joins the J.League side on an 18-month loan deal from Thai League 1 club SCG Muang Thong United.
He will be the first Thai player to play in the Japanese top flight in the current format.
A large number of fans and well-wishers were at Suvarnabhumi airport to see him off including his girlfriend, actress Pitchanart ‘May’ Sakhakorn.
“I am ready for a new challenge. I want to fulfil my dream,’’ he said.
“I am not going there for holiday. I want to prove myself. I have an amulet but the most special thing is my heart. Few people in Japan know me so it will be good for me to focus on football.”
Dubbed ‘Messi J’, Chanathip said he was determined to train hard to earn a place in the starting line-up.
“I am very excited and looking forward to joining my new team,’’ he said.
Consadole are fighting to avoid relegation. They are currently 15th in the 18-team league and just one point above the drop zone.
“I want to help them stay up,’’ he said. At Tokyo’s Narita airport later yesterday, a couple of Japanese fans, wearing Consadole shirts, sought autographs from the Thailand international.
The 1.6m tall player was asked by a Japanese reporter if he could play well in Japan as he is quite small.
“Playing in Japan is my dream,’’ Chanathip said.
“If you want to know if I will be able to play well or not, you should follow my team Consadole Sapporo.”
Earlier, Pitchanart said Chanathip could not sleep before his departure.
“He was very excited. Japan is a nice country but staying there alone could be difficult,’’ she said.
“I will give him moral support. If he phones me and tells me to go there, I will go there immediately. I don’t want to go there now because I don’t want to distract him.”
Muang Thong have signed Charyl Chappuis, another Thailand midfielder, as Chanathip’s replacement.
The Kirins have also brought in five other players for the second half of the Thai League 1 season, which started last weekend.
They are Prakit Deeprom, Siroch Chatthong, Leandro Assumpcao, Totsawat Limwannasatien and Heberty Fernandes.
Thanks to Chanathip’s spell in Japan, TrueVisions will show live J.League games.
Some first and second division matches from the Japanese league will be broadcast live in Thailand starting this month.
TrueVisions will air selected J1 and J2 games as well as some matches from the YBC Levain Cup and the Fuji Xerox Super Cup.
The Football Association of Thailand has also signed a co-operation deal with its Japanese counterpart to aid the development of the game in both countries.
Meanwhile, Thailand coach Milovan Rajevac said he will not call up Chanathip to the squad for next month’s King’s Cup in Bangkok.
“I want him to get used to life at his new club,’’ he said.
BURIRAM’S NEW PLAYER
Thai League 1 leaders Buriram United have signed Thai-Dutch player Devin Pinheiro Frederico from Spanish Segunda (second tier) club CP Cacereno.
The 21-year-old right-back is Buriram’s third signing for the second half of the season after Soraluk Haiprakon and Rafael Bastos.
The Thunder Castle have also welcomed back Venezuela defender Andres Tunez after his loan stint in Spain.
Buriram are currently two points ahead of defending champions Muang Thong in Thai League 1.