Thailand's Football Coach Peter Withe Given FAT Freeze

James Loving/National Radio Text Service

Monday January 6, 2003

THAILAND WINS TIGER CUP

The good fortunes of Thailand's national football team continue. They won their second consecutive Tiger Cup championship under English coach Peter Withe. It was the Thai's third Tiger Cup title (1996-2000-2002) in the last four competitions.

That's the good news. The bad news is the Football Association of Thailand (FAT) is once again behaving in nerve-racking fashion by holding off on giving Withe a new contract. THE FREEZE IS ON.

The first round was with mixed results. The Thai's opened with a 5-1 victory over Laos followed by a 3-1 loss to Malaysia, 1-1 result with Singapore to go through to the second round.

They then trounced once feared Vietnam 4-0 and defeated Indonesia in the final 2-2 (4-2) for the championship.

This was accomplished with Withe having roughly two weeks to prepare his squad. Many of the players were playing in the Singapore's S League. The side had numerous injuries to key players when the tournament began.

Like the World Cup Qualifying preparations the FAT made poor travel arrangements causing the team to fly to Singapore on separate planes. Several players arrived late. Withe was faced the fact of having to prepare a squad that was not in tact.

With all of his success Withe again has to go through disrespect and the scrutiny of the FAT that don't appear to appear to appreciate his value.

His contract expired this month. After three years on the job when his contract expired in October 2001 he was in limbo for three months while the FAT to decide his fate.

The former Aston Villa/England striker was given a one-year deal at a 25% cut in salary followed by an ultimatum. The FAT said they had no money to pay him. The FAT are singing that song again and plan to use a Thai coach for the upcoming Kings Cup to be played in February.

Under Withe the Thais success is unparalleled in their soccer football history. During his four-year tenure he has led the squad to two straight Tiger Cup wins and two Sea Games championships. His teams have been competitive in International matches against South Korea, Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Barcelona, and Leeds. The side learned a lot in their 7-1 trashing at the hands of eventual World Cup champions Brazil that had their full squad.

The Thai's know that Withe has made them competitive enough for them to make big plans for their future.

``I believe that our younger players are good enough to help us win the first title of 2003 for the Thai people, to follow on from the Tiger Cup.'' The Bangkok Post reported team manager Thavatchai Sajakul as saying.

It was Sajakul that said Withe was the right person to coach the team after Thailand defeated Arsenal in 1999.

Thailand is also considering hiring coaches from Brazil. The Post reported that FAT president Vijit Getaew as saying that he is keen to employ a Brazilian coach and that Withe's contract may not be renewed. That decision will be made later by the FAT executive board committee under Gen Sumpao Chusri, who is chairman of the World Cup project.

``The coaches who are most suitable for the Thai players are Brazilian coaches because of our style of play" he continued.

It was Withe that implemented that style of play that made the Thai team competitive yet he isn't respected enough to be given credit for it.

Withe has returned to England while the FAT wheels keep turning. What next for the unappreciated Withe? To be continued….

TRAINING CENTER

Thailand is preparing a football-training center. FIFA is donating one million dollars to the project is slated to be completed in two years. ``It will take around two years for everything to be completed,'' the FAT's Worawi Makudi said as reported in the Bangkok Post.

The center is on 20 rai of land and FIFA will provide US$1 million (43 million baht).

``This money will be provided at a rate of US$250,000 a year,'' Makudi continued. `` If there is an emergency, then FIFA will allow us to get an advance.''

All age levels of the national teams will train at the facility. The five-story training center will have 120 rooms, one swimming pool, four training grounds and a fitness center.

KINGS CUP:

The Kings Cup tournament will be held in Bangkok February 16-22. Sweden, North Korea and Qatar have agreed to participate. Sweden said they would bring their full squad.

FIFA RANKED THAILAND 8th IN ASIA:

Prior to the Tiger Cup FIFA was ranked Thailand 8th in Asia.

1. Korea 2. Japan 3. Iran 4. Saudi Arabia 5. Iraq 6. Qatar 7. China 8. Thailand 9. UAE 10. Jordan