Courtesy: The Nation


Futsal coach aims to lift mood after tragedy

September 21, 2016

National coach Miguel Rodrigo hopes to steer Thailand to a last-16 win over Azerbaijan in the Fifa Futsal World Cup tomorrow to lift the mood of his team after one of his players lost a brother to a motorbike accident.

The whole of Thai squad and coaching staff as well as Adisak Benjasirwan, the chairman of nationฌal committee for futsal development, observed a two-minute silence in tribute to the younger brother of defender Jirawat Sornwichian at the end of the training session yesterday.

The 27-year-old Jirawat has been instrumental in the Kingdom's run to the last-16 round for second consecutive time as the country qualified as the Group B runnersup with two wins and a loss from their three group games in the 24-team tournament in Colombia.

Despite playing at the back, the Ranong native has so far found the net four times, the same number of goals as the team's star striker Suphawut Thueanklang as the Thai pair are currently the joint third highest scorer in the event.

Spaniard Rodrigo, who helped the 12th-ranked Thai side advance from the group phase to match their best campaign in the competition, said his charges wanted to beat a Azerbaijani side that sit two places above them in the world's rankings to show their solidarity.

"We're a family. We feel his pain. We're all sad about the loss of his brother. We have to clinch this win for him. Every goal we score, it's for Jirawat. We're ready to fight until the last breath.

"If we win, Jirawat would be happy. We want to make him happy but everyone has to give it all, not just 100 per cent but more than that," said the 46-year-old, whose side would achieve their best-ever result in the event should they move past Azerbaijan.

The Spanish coach further said he had to ascertain whether Jirawat was in the right frame of mind to play against the European opponents. If not, he would pick either veteran Lertchai Issarawuwipakorn or Natthapon Suttiroj to start in his place.

Channel 7 will televise the match live tomorrow from 5.30am (Bangkok time).


Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com