Chonburi Go Inter: 2007

ERIKSSON READY TO INK SUREE DEAL
(November 13th 2007) 
by Tor Chittinand (www.bangkokpost.com) 
Thailand international Suree Sukha is set to become the first Thai player to sign for an English Premiership club when Manchester City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson arrives here later this week, the Football Association of Thailand (FAT) said yesterday. FAT secretary-general Ong-Arj Kosinkar said the Swede will be here on Friday to ink a deal with the full-back. Eriksson is also interested in Teerasil Dangda and Kiatprawut Saiwaew, who were at City on trial recently with Suree.

Suree was initially denied a work permit by Britain's Home Office but FAT president Worawi Makudi said he had talked to Premier League chief Richard Scudamore. The official has promised to help sort out any problems. According to the FAT chief, striker Teerasil and defender Kiatprawut could also be signed by City, who are owned by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Worawi said City had agreed to help football development in Thailand and the FAT would send three young players to train at the English club next year as part of the agreement. A press conference will be held at the Conrad hotel on Friday when Eriksson is expected to sign Suree and announce the co-operation agreement. Eriksson will also visit China as part of a worldwide expansion programme which includes setting up academies in Asia.

''We plan to have academies all over the world,'' Eriksson was quoted as saying in the English press. ''The plan is to have the first ones opening in Thailand and China.''


THAI TRIO MAKE HISTORY WITH SVEN
(November 17, 2007) 
by Tor Chittinand (www.bangkokpost.com) 
Suree, Kiatprawut and Teerasil are the first players from Thailand to join an English Premiership club but Eriksson denied that politics was at play in the signings of the trio, amid reports that club chairman Thaksin Shinawatra was seeking popularity ahead of the Dec 23 general election. The coach insisted that the move was to help Asian football and promote the club in the region.

''I am here only for football reasons, I am not here for political reasons,'' Eriksson said. ''We came here because it is during the break for the international matches in Europe and there are no Premier League matches. ''I have time to come to Asia and sign the contract and it has nothing to do with Thai politics.''

Manchester City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson signed three Thai players yesterday but they are not likely to play in the Premier League this season. Thailand internationals Suree Sukha, Kiatprawut Saiwaew and Teerasil Dangda were signed for three years for undisclosed transfer fees and wages at a high-profile press conference at the Conrad hotel in Bangkok. The contracts run from 2008-2010.

Eriksson told reporters that the signings were not a direct order from former prime minister Thaksin who was ousted in a coup in September last year and has since been living in exile in London. He said the three players would have to prove themselves on the field.

''To tell the truth, these three players will not be playing in the English Premier League this year,'' Eriksson said. ''They have to prove whether they are able to play in the Premier League or not. ''They may be able to play in the Premier League next season especially the fullback Suree who has the ability to play for City but it all depends on him to show his skill to us.''

The three have not yet got work permits although concerned parties believe Suree's application could soon be approved by Britain's Home Office. City's PR chief Paul Tyrell said Suree could be the first to get a work permit as he had played for the Thai national side for 75% of their competitive matches in the past two years.

City will set up a football academy in Bangkok to groom young Thai players and to help the Kingdom become a football powerhouse.

Suree, 25, said he would try to prove his skill to the club and hoped he could be a good example for young Thais.

''It's a great honour and I hope young Thai players will work harder if they want to play in Europe,'' he said.

Worawi Makudi, president of the Football Association of Thailand (FAT), said it was an historic day for Thailand.

''Suree, Kiatprawut and Teerasil have created a new chapter in Thai football,'' Worawi said. ''We hope they are not the last ones.It is not easy for Thai players to get a chance to play in one of the top leagues in the world.''