Two leagues become one in Thailand
by Tor Chittinand
6/1/07
The Football Association of Thailand (FAT) has joined forces with the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) to merge the two current leagues in time for the big kick-off on March 18.
SAT governor Kanokphan Julkasem and FAT president Vijitr Getkaew headed a meeting yesterday that agreed to combine the Thailand Premier League and the Thailand Professional League.
The Thailand League will kick off in March with 16 teams.
The SAT budget of 55 million baht, which was awarded by the government, will be split between the Thailand League (27.5m), First Division (11m), Second Division (5.5m) and the Provincial League or SAT Championship (11m).
The 16 teams will include 12 teams from last year's Thailand Premier League, TOT and Nakhon Pathom from the Pro League and Royal Thai Police and Royal Thai Navy from the First Division.
There will be 24 teams in the First Division, 12 in the Second Division and 12 in the Provincial League or SAT Championship.
That will be divided into five regions with the champions and the runner-up of each region to play in the final round before the top two teams will be promoted into the Second Division.
New season kicks off today
by Tor Chittinand
17/3/07
Royal Thai Army's clash BEC Tero Sasana at the Army stadium is the pick of the first day fixtures in the Thailand Premier League this afternoon. The match will kick off at 4pm and will be televised live on Channel 11.
Army coach Col Amnaj Chalermchaovalit said his team were raring to get the new campaign started.
''Our team is ready for the opening match and our high level of fitness means our players will not run out of stamina,'' he said.
Ong-art Kohsinkha, BEC Tero manager, countered: ''We have been training for a long time and our team is ready.
''We can play for 90 minutes.''
''However, some of our pre-Olympic players did not have time to train with the team but I don't think that this will be a big problem.''
Coulibaly Kafoumba and Kambou Herve, who were born in Ivory Coast, will line up for BEC Tero alongside Thai national squad players Tawan Sripan and Pipat Tonkanya.
BEC Tero players will get a 3,000 baht bonus if they win their opening match today.
FIXTURES
Tobacco Monopoly v Port (4pm); Nakhon Pathom v Royal Thai Navy (4pm); Honda FC v Police (4pm); Bangkok Bank v Krung Thai Bank (4pm); Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) v TOT (4pm); Chonburi v Suphanburi (6pm).
Chonburi claim country's top honours
by Tor Chittinand
22/11/07
Chonburi were crowned Thailand Premier League champions for the first time after beating Krung Thai Bank 3-2 yesterday. Before their supporters at the Municipal Stadium, Chonburi built a comanding 2-0 lead at half-time.
But 10-man Krung Thai, their closest rivals, fought back to level the score only for the home side to fire a late winner.
The bankers were reduced to nine men in injury time.
With one round to go, Chonburi have 63 points to Krung Thai's 54. It was a huge success for the eastern province who had been promoted to the country's top flight only two years ago.
Chonburi took the lead after 18 minutes through Arthit Sunthornpit. After Krung Thai's Kraikiat Beatakut was sent off for two yellow cards, Sarawut Chantaphan gave Chonburi a 2-0 lead at half-time.
Depsite having only 10 players, Krung Thai got two goals from Phichitpong Cheuichiew after 60 and 73 minutes. But with five minutes to go Pipop Onn-mo scored the winning goal for Chonburi.
In injury time, Krung Thai goalkeeper Kritsana Klanklin was dismissed after kicking Pipop from behind.
Meanwhile, BEC Tero Sasana held Bangkok University to a 0-0 draw to remain third.
The Army moved to fourth after edging the Police 1-0 thanks to goal from Watcharakorn Antakumpoo. The defeat condemned bottom side Police to the first division.
The Navy and Honda FC were also relegated with the other spot to be determined in the final round on November 27.
In yesterday's other matches, Suphanburi lost 2-1 to TOT FC; Tobacco Monopoly drew 2-2 with Nakhon Pathom; Honda lost 2-1 to Osotspa; and Bangkok Bank were held to a scoreless draw by the Navy.
No comments:
Post a Comment