Courtesy: The Phuket News

The rise of Thai futsal

Fresh from an enriching European training camp, Thailand’s national futsal squad – including three players from Phuket United – are heavily favoured to sweep the Southeast Asian futsal championship next week for their 10th title in as many appearances.

Meanwhile, six-time Thailand futsal league champions, and 2013 Asia Champions, Chonburi Blue Wave prepare to represent the continent in a “final four” showdown with the world’s top five-a-side at the end of the month.

With the Futsal Thailand Premier League having successfully concluded a benchmarking 7th season last month, key Thai futsal players have remained busy on the world stage.

In Europe in recent weeks, Thailand – commandeered by Dutch futsal legend, Coach Vic Hermans – played four top international clubs, garnering two wins and as many draws.

The War Elephants drew 3-3 with the reigning champions of the Dutch elite futsal league (Topdivisie) Club Futsal Eindhoven, and bested another Dutch side Green Star 2-1.
With reps from the Belgium elite league (BFD1), Thailand impressed with a 3-2 win over Belgian powerhouse Hasselt, and stood their ground in a 4-4 draw with Malle.

“There were two objectives with the Europe training camp. Firstly, to warm up for the AFF tournament in Malaysia, and secondly, to give new players valuable international experience with top European clubs with international players … I’m thinking ahead to the [FIFA World Cup 2016] championship in Colombia, so I need to prepare as many players as possible,” the Dutch legend told The Phuket News.

Interestingly, Coach Hermans’ latest squad doesn’t include any key “backbone” players from six-time Thailand champions Chonburi Blue Wave, due to the club’s own international competition obligations.

Chonburi have also just returned from abroad, having failed to defend their AFC Club Championship title in Chengdu, China, settling for 2nd place this year in the ultimate continental tournament, in which Japanese side Nagoya Oceans snatched the title with a last second goal to down the Thai side 5-4 in the final.

“I’m not too disappointed,” remarked Chonburi’s seasoned Spanish chief, Jose Mendez or “Coach Pulpis”. “No team has ever won the [AFC Club] title two years in a row. We came close, which would have been historic, but it wouldn’t be correct to say that they [Nagoya] weren’t deserved.”

The top Thai club have an even taller order now. At the end of the month they travel to Kazakhstan to represent Asia against the best in Europe, South America... the world.
Taking place September 30 to October 5 will be the World Futsal Supercup, the equivalent of football’s intercontinental club cup.

This year, Chonburi will play two matches, first in a semifinal, and then depending on the result of that match, in the final or third place match. The other contenders include Kairat from Kazakhstan (UEFA Futsal Champions), Intelli (Brazilian and CONMEBOL champions) and Dinamo of Russia (winners of the previous edition).

Who Chonburi will end up with in their semifinal has not been determined at the time of going to press.

“I don’t expect any shocks, all the clubs are really, really good. We’ll probably end up playing the hosts, who are the UEFA champions and include some of the best Brazilian national players … It will be valuable experience for us,” the former chief of Thailand (2008-2011) told the reporters.

Meanwhile, the Thai squad, even without Chonburi stars, are training hard for the AFF (Asean Football Federation) Futsal Championship 2014, which will take place in Shah Alam, Malaysia from September 19 to 27.








FP Staff --> info@futsalplanet.com