Worawi Shall Make a Difference
by Azam Mahmood
Southeast Asian sports establishments witnessed two major sports developments recently. One was election of deposed Thai Prime Minster Thaksin Sinawatra's election as President of Thailand Professional Golf Association and the other was the election of Worawi Makudi as President of the Thailand Football Association. I am one of those few Asian football writers who have very closely witnessed the rise and rise of Worawi over last one and half decades.
What has really astounded me most, is his international wallop, surpassing many aspiring senior Asian football leaders, within such a short span of time. True, Worawi enjoys an enviable rapport both with European and Arab football circles alike, a very rare trait for an Asian football leader to possess. By exploiting this to the fullest, gaining technical and financial support from them, he can transform the complexion of Thai football radically.
Success begets fans support in sports. Qualifying for the finals of the World Cup is not all but should be the essential long term objective of every football predominant nation. Thai fans would continue to be exultant with consistence success in Southeast Asia as a regional football powerhouse. As a general secretary for 12 years, teaming with another great Thai sports leader Dr. Vijit Getkaew, Worawi made tangible contributions to elevate Thai football to the respectable high position where it is today.
In Worawi's case there is little danger of "Best General Secretary" and a "Worst President" syndrome, as we have witnessed many times in Asian sporting bodies in the past, for his seasoned grooming from the rank of a club organiser to President of the FA. He has successfully faced all the challenges of organising high-level sports and well knows every twist and turn of running a national football body.
Worawi should create a win-win situation for the players, fans, coaches, referees and organisers alike to elevate the Thai football standard to true world level. Let all the parties keep on enjoying football. There lies the salvation of immense Thai football potential. It would be pointless to waste his precious time appeasing any certain vested group or individuals in the FAT Board or indulging in inner-feuds. The Board itself should be a dynamic professional body befitting Thailand's growing image as a modern, skilful, entertaining and audacious football outfit.
Seeing is believing - Worawi has translated his vision and love for the game so aptly and graphically in the state-of-the-art Beckenbauer Football Academy in Nongjok. This is one of the most ambitious sport development projects I have seen in Asia, after Japan's J-Village and Iran Olympic Academy. The Academy should continue to grow and modernise as a training hub of Thai national and Age-group teams. The solitude, greeneries, facilities and proximity to Bangkok make it an ideal training institution for a national side, that needs rigid regimentation to excel as one of Asia's best sides within the foreseeable future.
One very deserving feather of accolade that is missing from Worawi's hat is AFC's Diamond of Asia Award, so far won only by Japan's charismatic professional football visionary and Their FA President Saburo Kawabuchi in 2005. Worawi is one of those few Asian sports leaders who has many thing in common with Kawabuchi; humble, resolute, articulate, focused and fully committed in achieving his goals.
Like Kawabuchi he hardly rests on his laurels. Worawi possesses that rare mix of tenacity and mental strength to further augment Thai football as a new Asian force to reckon with and I am very much optimistic that with the help of a pro-active, proficient and highly motivated professional supporting team- he shall make the difference.
Azam Mahmood
Travel Leisure & Sports Editor- Daily JaiJaiDin
This article first appeared in The Nation newspaper www.nationmultimedia.com
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