Chanathip impresses team boss

Consadole chairman backs Thai for success

Consadole Sapporo chairman Yoshikazu Nonomura believes that his team’s Thai midfielder Chanathip Songkrasin has the potential to excel in the competitive J1 League.

Chanathip made his debut for the Japanese club in their 3-0 Levain Cup aggregate loss to Cerezo Osaka on Wednesday.

The 23-year-old Thailand playmaker, nicknamed “Messi Jay” by Thai fans and the media, came on as a substitute at the start of the second half of the game for Ryota Hayasaka.

It was an impressive debut for Chanathip and helped him earn praise from his club’s chairman.

Nonomura said: “We were under pressure as we were behind our opponents. Jay came on in the second half and did his best for the team.

“He has speed and he is also good at passing the ball.

“I followed his performance while he was at Muang Thong United and the Thai national team. I believe Chanathip can play well and be a success in the J-League.”

Daily Nikkan Sports said in a report: “Thai midfielder Chanathip played his first game in Japan when he was sent in in the second half.

“Chanathip played together with Shinji Ono, who was later substituted and the Thai player then marshalled the midfield alone for the rest of the match.”

Chanathip told the media after the game: “I am very happy to play my first game for Consadole but feel sorry that we lost the match.

“I have been trying very hard in training and did the same in this game to cement my place in the starting line-up of the team.”

After the impressive show, Chanathip will be hoping for more game time when Consadole Sapporo take on Urawa Red Diamonds at their Sapporo Dome tomorrow at noon (Thai time) when the second leg of J1 League kicks off.

Urawa are eighth on 29 points while Consadole are 15th with 16 in the 18-team league.

It has been reported that 35,000 Thai flags will be handed out to Consadole fans before the Urawa game as the J1 League side are set to offocially welcome the diminutive Thai star to Japanese football.

Meanwhile, the Football Association of Thailand (FAT) have forged an alliance with Germany’s Bundesliga side VFL Wolfsburg to develop Thai football.

This was agreed at a meeting yesterday at the FAT headquarters.

The meeting was attended by FAT deputy-secretary-general Patit Supapong and Wolfsburg’s sales director for Middle East, India and Asean Frank Jan Steinmann and the director of the Wolfsburg Development Academy Mano Nhouvannasak.

The Wolfsburg representatives submitted a working plan to the FAT.

Wolfsburg have offered their expertise in helping the national association build a modern stadium and initiating a football clinic for the development of young players in the country.

The FAT also presented the Wolfsburg representatives its own plans for the construction of stadium and uplifting the standard of the young Thai players.

Wolfsburg have similar partnerships with many Asian countries, including China.