Ahead of his 50th league match in charge of Chonburi, here is a 2011 interview with Sharks' coach, Sasom Pobprasert, taken from BK magazine.
As Sasom Popprasert makes the move from coach of Thai Port to Second Division team Buriram F.C Monruedee Jansuttipan talked to the former midfielder and True soccer pundit about the reasons behind his move, his ambitions for the future, why the TPL still has a long way to go, why he worries about foreign players and why people need to start looking at the game as a business.
So why did you decide to take the job at Buriram?
As I’ve already said it’s because we need to divide up the burden of Thai Port’s debt.
How exactly?
I respect Pichet Munkong [owner of Thai Port]. He got me to help out there and he gave me everything. We treat each other like brothers and if a brother is in trouble we have to help each other out. I may not be able to help with much but it’s better than not doing anything. Could I have stayed? Yes. But I can’t imagine how we could have handled the debt. I said that since I’m a man, I’m going to help. I sacrificed myself to help the team with this problem. It’s ok, I can handle it and it’s better than if I walk out. For instance if the club can’t pay me or the athletes and they quit, that’s not fair. At least this way they get money and pay for some of the debt. I received support from Newin, for which I thank him.
But you’re obviously sad to go?
I’ve been with Thai Port for over two years. Every day I come down from the express way, I see a motorcycle driver wearing the blue shirt driving from Klong Toei and I am happy. I get goose bumps every time, “how could I make them so into it?” It’s what they love. It’s their local team. Every time I come to Thai Port I am still proud. I am from Thai Port. So no matter where I am, it will still be in my heart and my thoughts. But I have to go. And once I leave I put on the Buriram hat.
What do you think to politicians getting involved with football?
There are advantages and disadvantages. But I think there are more advantages because part of it is that most politicians have to have projects. Whether it’s bringing in money to the team, or building public utilities, like stadiums or training facilities. It’s better than using the money for something else. Politicians get involved with football so people get to know who they are. If the team does well then everyone is happy and the politician’s reputation improves.
And the disadvantages?
Problems arise when politicians aren’t honest with the players about what are they doing it for. Some have done well, I admire that, but others are like once the election is over they lose interest. They will learn their lesson when they campaign again.
So you're off to Buriram but what are your longer term plans?
Right now I love being a coach. It represents me best and it’s what I want to prove myself in. A coach’s career is on a fine piece of string; without success, who would hire you. Let’s say without my record, would Newin Chitchob have chosen me? He could choose anybody else in the world, can buy anybody in the world. All coaches want to be a coach for the national team. I have views on how to get there. It’s my dream. Once I’ve made the nation team, I’ll see if I can handle it. When something has reached a limit, my instincts will tell me what to do next in my life.
What's your footballing philosophy?
It doesn’t mean anything if you score a very good goal but don’t win the championship. Playing a good game without actually winning wouldn’t make anybody remember you. I don’t fake things, I enjoy my life. But if I am always making jokes at work then, I wouldn’t be able to control people. I am a fighter, I was raised and taught to fight all my life. That’s what I want to teach my players as well; the ‘who I am’, which is serious and smart. It’s not like I don’t care, I do, but because this is what I am it is hard to change.
And after coaching?
I want my own football team. My dream of owning my own football team won’t happen in a long time but I’ve started to dream of it. My team would be entertainers. Playing exciting football.
So where do you see Thai football at the moment?
It took a hundred years for football in Europe to get where it is. We’ve just started playing football professionally. The footballers must learn, I must learn, the fans must learn, the referees must learn, the association must learn, everyone must learn. Look at today’s Thai football players, they come from being semi-pro, or amateurs and then turning into professionals.
So everyone needs to get more professional about the game?
As a professional, you have to be strong in all areas. Your heart, your mind, your discipline you have to have everything but you have to learn to change. It takes time to become a professional. For example, go back in time and look at Steven Gerard who is now nearly 30, what was he born with? Professional football. When he was a kid he probably got Liverpool shirts as presents. Then take one of our top football players, like Datsakorn Thonglao (currently at Muangthong United) who’s also almost 30, what was his first present? Probably a doll. Dasakorn was trained to be a professional where? Vietnam, abroad.
You think we’re still a long way off from that?
I believe that if you take a Thai kid who is now 10, in 15 years, you’re going to see the professional in him, if Thai football remains this strong. He’s going to be a complete soccer player. I don’t call Thai Port current players professionals, because they’re just changing from being amateurs. What I always taught them, though, is that they have to act like professionals, do everything like professionals. Professional soccer players don’t have to be asked if they’ve eaten their meals or be ordered to go to bed early.
What do you think about Thailand’s chances internationally?
Right now, we have to admit that the national team is really low on good players. So low that we have to worry. What I mean is from the U16 and U19 teams, you can actually count the ones who are going to become professional soccer players. The same players are used again and again. No new players rise up, this is dangerous. We urgently need to spend money on training our young teams our U10s, our U12s it's vital.
What are Thai players lacking?
We need a Zidane, Messi or Maradona, to truly go international. Having good soccer players, but nothing stands out about any of them...it’s difficult.
What do you think about bringing in foreign players to the TPL?
I think it’s both good and bad. Good because they have some characteristics that Thai players don’t: responsibility, strength, and the perspective of real soccer professionals. But on the other side let’s say 5 out of 11 players are foreigners it’s good for marketing because people have fun watching the match. But in the soccer structure itself, we only have 6 Thais on the field. For example, about a hundred Thai players get to play in a week when it should be a thousand.
Do you think they need to be changes to the rules?
I think 3+ foreigners would be OK, and the rest should be Thai players. That way, Thai players would benefit. If you use 5 out of 11 players, Thai kids won’t even try to become players. Don’t forget there’s already very high competition.
So football is more than just a sport?
Soccer is also a business. You can bring in politics or whatever, you sell ads, anything to start making profits. I don’t care how you get the money, but soccer is a business so you have to control the spending. If you invested 30, and you make 35 a year... that is success, the end. But if you invested 30 million, like Thai Port, and you get a revenue of 20. You now have a B10 million debt, I don’t think this is the way to do it. The point is soccer is a business, you should do anything to make a profit.
What can be done to make Thais watch more Thai football?
I think we’re on the right track. Football fans are starting to understand the culture of cheering. It’s up to us what we’re going to do to make these fans like customers. If I was owner of a club, like Thai Port, everyone in the audience is our customers. How do we make them think “Today I’m here to see Thai Port! The weekend is here!”
So football is just another form of entertainment?
It’s not sport, it’s entertainment. So what are we going to do to make them stay? Every second we’re here, it’s like watching a movie. Buy popcorn, buy coke, bring in the money. It’s a show where if you’re entertaining, you will keep getting customers. If you’re not entertaining, customers will go see another show.
Can football help to fix problems with young people in society?
Yes. Now I think the media has to promote it. Football nowadays has idols like Anucha and Kitpongsee from Chonburi they used to be dek van. And now they are big stars, earning good money playing football. You have to be daring. You have to give chances to those people. One of my players Ekapoom used to be a motorcycle taxi driver. Now he plays football and earns money. Or Annawin, who used to be a drug dealer - it reflects that these kids can change.
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