by The Nation
September, 1998
Vittaya Laohakul, head coach of the disgraced Thailand soccer team, feeling he was falling behind, yesterday joined the lengthening queue of those offering to resign to ''share responsibility'' for a shameful performance in a Tiger Cup first-round game last week.
Meanwhile, Thailand yesterday asked Indonesia to reconsider withdrawing its national soccer team from the 13th Asian Games in the wake of the farcical Tiger Cup match in Vietnam last week. Deputy Prime Minister Bhichai Ratakul said he had asked Indonesia's ambassador to convey a message to authorities at home that they should send the team for the sake of Asean ''spirit''.''I said let bygones be bygones, we cannot change anything, so we should show the spirit of Asean,'' he said.
The Jakarta Post on Saturday quoted National Sports Council deputy chairman Arie Sudewo as saying that Indonesia had decided to pull its national soccer team out of the games, to be held here in December. The team, which returned empty-handed to a quiet welcome yesterday, expressed regret and apologised to local soccer fans for its performance at the Asean tournament in Vietnam.
Defending champions Thailand were the hot favourites to retain their title. They finished fourth after losing to Indonesia in the third-place play-off on Saturday. Skipper Natee Thongsukkaew stood firm by his decision to quit the national team if the Football Association of Thailand (FAT) decided to get rid of manager Thirachai Vuttitham and Vittaya at a board meeting tomorrow. Thirachai and the entire team have already offered to quit the squad.
Crafty play-maker Surachai Jaturapatarapong and striker Worawut Srimakka yesterday confirmed that the two were ''seriously considering'' pulling out of the national Asian Games squad. The Asiad takes place in Bangkok at the end of this year.
Vittaya, wearing a downcast look, said: ''It's the end of the road as far as I am concerned. The board shouldn't bother to deliberate on my resignation, because I am quitting anyway. I have to share responsibility. ''My only worry is that the team had already started moulding. Now they will have to start all over again under a new coach. I would request the association to retain the staff coaches so that some continuity is maintained. 'The biggest problem of this team is that it doesn't have a good striker. I would suggest to the new coach and manager to bring in Sutee Suksomkid and Bumrung Bunprom to join Kiertisak Senamuang in the attack.''
Both Sutee and Bumrung are members of the national under-19 team, which is preparing for next month's Asian youth championship in Chiang Mai.
Asked about his future plans, Vittaya said: ''Football is my life, and I am not going anywhere. In case the association requires my services to coach any of the younger squads I'll make myself available.''
FAT technical development committee chairman Virat Chanpanich has recommended former national-team skipper Amnart Chalermchavalit and former ''dream-team'' coach Chatchai Paholphet as the two suitable candidates to take over the reins of the team.
Team deputy manager Kasem Chanyawong said yesterday upon arrival that his team had its hands tied. ''Deep in our hearts, we wanted our team to reach our ultimate goal. It may sound a lame excuse, but to play like that was the only option we had. ''We regret and apologise for any anguish our acts in Vietnam might have caused. However, I am sure that faced with similar conditions anyone would have taken the same route.''
Kasem was referring to security concerns for the team during their stay in Vietnam. ''Our team never had any intention to do bad deeds, but we had no choice and could do nothing better. We realise and are well aware that the road ahead will be really tough,'' said Kasem.
However, he appealed to FAT not to penalise the players and staff coaches for that farcical match, claiming that it would hit Thailand's preparations for the Asian Games. Kasem said he and Thirachai were ready to take responsibility for what had happened, but ''we don't want to see the team break up because of the incident. They have served the country for a long time''.
He blamed the team's defeat to Vietnam on widespread condemnation of the squad's performance against Indonesia. ''The players could not concentrate on the match because their minds were elsewhere,'' said Kasem.
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