by Komkrit Napalai
September, 1999
Twelve provinces have entered the league, which also kick-starts a government plan to introduce a professional setup in the local sports. The winners of the inaugural championship will earn a cash reward of Bt1 million, while the first and second runners-up will receive Bt500,000 and Bt200,000 respectively.
Representatives of the Asian Football Confederation, Football Association of Thailand and Revenue Department yesterday finalised rules and regulations for the competition. Each team, which will be required to play a total of 22 home and away matches, will comprise 25 players and they will be allowed to hire foreign players, up to a maxium of five.
Players taking part in leagues organised by the Football Association of Thailand are not allowed to participate in the Provincial League. However, no decision has been reached on expansion of the league at the end of its first season on March 9 next year.
Jurin said he was confident the league would help initiate a proper professional setup in the country. The PM's Office Minister said: ''The government is keen to make the project a success. It will bear all the expenses incurred by the organisation of the tournament, including the teams' and officials' expenses.''
According to Jurin's plan, after two seasons a certain number of the teams from the new Provincial League will be selected to play the leading sides from the on-going Caltex Premier League in 2001 in a tournament to be named the ''Super League''. He advised the participating teams that they should start forming their own bands of cheering squad and fan clubs.
''Fans are one of the most important factors behind the success of any sports event or team,'' Jurin said.
The participating teams in the inaugural Provincial League are from Nakhon Ratchasima, Si Sak Ket, Songkhla, Udon Thani, Nakhon Sawan, Suphan Buri, Bangkok, Satun, Pattani, Chiang Mai, Nakhon Pathom and Surat Thani.
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