Pohang Steelers v Chonburi
18th February, 2012
Korea Opportunities
My match preview for an Asian football website
When Chonburi first burst on to the AFC scene in 2008, they caught a lot of people off guard. The small provincial club from one of the region’s poorer relations, were within sixty seconds of beating eventual champions Gamba Osaska on their own patch, when they made their debut at this level. One week later, they destroyed a strong Melbourne Victory side at the Supachalasai Stadium in Bangkok, with a performance that still ranks as one of the best by a local team in continental competition.
Suddenly, the rest of Asia wanted to know all about the team from fifty miles south of the Thai capital who two years previously, had been playing in front of crowds of just a few hundred spectators. It was a great time to be a part of the Chonburi phenomenon, as we were thrust into the media spotlight and undoubtedly kick started the boom and interest in the Thai domestic league. Unfortunately, the good run didn’t last, probably down to a small squad and inexperience, and we eventually finished bottom of the group. However, we had made our mark and earned a lot of new friends along the way.
Now, four years later and with a couple of relatively successful AFC Cup campaigns under our belts, we find ourselves once more in the region’s premier domestic cup competition, albeit in a one off qualifying tie. This time there’s absolutely no way we’ll be able to rely on the element of surprise. So what do we have at our disposal to help us progress?
Well for one, we have a squad packed full of internationals. Goalkeeper Sinthaweechai (Kosin) Hathairaatanakool, defenders Suree Sukha, Chonlatit Jantakam, Suttinun Phukhom and midfielder Anucha Kitpongsri are all fixtures in the current Thailand squad and thirty eight year old Therdsak Chaiman had a distinguished career with the national team before “retiring” last year.
These home grown stars are supplemented by the three latest signings; French midfielder Geoffrey Doumeng, striker Ludovick Takam from Cameroon, returning defender Ivorian, Fode Diakite Bangaly – he was last at the club in 2006 - and last season’s ever present Japanese playmaker Kazuto Kushida.
And in forward Pipob On-Mo, we have a player who for many sums up what Chonburi FC is all about. The diminutive frontman (I’m legally obliged to call him that) never gives less than the clichéd 110% and would run through a brick wall if it meant he had the chance to get on the score sheet. He has achieved legendary staus at the club and epitomizes everything that is good about the Sharks. So, on paper, the squad looks a fairly strong one. But will it be good enough to cause a major upset against red hot favourites Pohang Steelers on Saturday?
I am by nature an optimist but my biggest concern going into this tie is the lack of serious preparation the team has had. We finished our league season in late December and the players enjoyed – if that’s the right word – a one week break before commencing pre-season training for the 2012 campaign. In the intervening weeks we have travelled around the country to play sides from lower down the league ladder, with mixed results, and entertained two of the continent’s big hitters Kitchee FC from Hong Kong and Singapore’s Tampines Rovers, at home.
But, in all honesty, these friendlies have been little more than glorified training sessions and are mainly remembered for the number of substutes used in order to give everyone – including fringe players and youth team players - a run out, than for giving any indication as to how we might perform in Korea. Not an ideal way to prepare for a game of such magnitude.
There have been rumours locally – aren’t there always – that the club would actually prefer to compete in the AFC Cup, which offers a more realistic chance of progressing, than struggle in the much tougher Champions League. However, I would take these with more than a pinch of salt, as I’m confident that everyone involved would like us to play at the highest level possible.
There is certainly more money to be made and prestige to be gained by appearing in the Champions League than there is in its little brother. Indeed team coach Witthaya Laohkul – who is a widely respected figure throughout Asia – has been making all the right noises in his pre match press conferences. And there’s no doubt that the players will want to give it their best shot.
So can we win at the weekend? It won’t be easy but stranger things have happened and one has to believe. I’ll be watching the match with scores of other fans at the Sharks Café just across the road from our home stadium. We’ll all be hoping for a miracle but most of all I think we’ll all be hoping that we can do ourselves proud and turn in a performance that once again will get the whole of Asia talking about Chonburi Football Club.
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