Robson in Cancer Scare

The South of Thailand has been the scene of many shocking acts of violence over the last few years, and now a member of the Thai football community can be added to the list of people affected by violence in that troubled region. Travelling in a car, on his way back from officiating at a Division 2 match between Pattalung and Krabi, linesman Jaroen Matchawanit was shot at by unknown assailants from another vehicle. Jaroen was hit by a bullet but, thankfully, survived the attack and is expected to be discharged from hospital soon.

Thailand’s U23 side made history on Wednesday night as they took on Palestine in the first ever competitive match to be played in the Palestinian Territories. The Thais preparations for this Olympics preliminary round match were not ideal as it took the team 17 hours and three border crossings to make it from Bangkok to Palestine via Jordan and Israel. A sell-out crowd, which included AFC President Mohammed Bin Hammam, saw Palestine take the lead on the stroke of halftime thanks to a wondrous left-foot volley from Abdelhamid Abu Habeeb. That goal squared the tie up at 1-1 on aggregate.

Muang Thong Manager Mystery Continues

Siam Navy – the football club set up by the Royal Thai Navy in the close-season – has hit stormy seas with a terrible start in the TPL. They drew 1-1 at Sisaket in their opening match, but that result was then changed to a 3-0 win in Sisaket’s favour after it was found out that Siam Navy had fielded an ineligible player. The club also received a pretty hefty fine of 100,000 baht. Last weekend they lost 3-1 at home to TPL newcomers Chiang Rai where nearly all of the lowly 2,000 crowd were bussed-in servicemen.

Debut win for Chonburi
Only two of the scheduled three matches were played last weekend. Khon Kaen’s home match with Osotspa was postponed as their plan to temporarily use the stadium at Mahasarakham University (their stadium is being redeveloped) has yet to be approved. Meanwhile Chonburi christened their debut at their new stadium with a hard fought 2-0 win over Thai Port, and Sisaket were held to a 1-1 draw by Siam Navy.

People Power

The 2012 Olympics will be watched by approximately two billion people worldwide. Nine million tickets will be sold to 500,000 spectators. 20,000 journalists will report on the performances of 17,000 athletes and, in total, the 2012 Games will cost over half a trillion baht. These dizzying figures seemed all the more difficult to comprehend as Thailand’s under-23s took on their Palestinian counterparts in the first round, first leg of the men’s Olympic football preliminary round.

TPL champions Muang Thong United announced on Wednesday afternoon (feb 24th) that coach Carlos Carvalho – only in the job since January – has been sacked. Muang Thong lost the season curtain-raiser Kor Royal Cup to Chonburi and crashed out of the AFC Champions League with Carvalho at the helm. However, he didn't get to take charge of a single TPL match as the Twin Qilins coach. As with the controversial sacking of Rene Desaeyere, behind-the-scenes conflicts are thought to be the main reasons for his surprising early departure.

Only five league games were actually played over the first weekend of the new season thanks to Muang Thong United’s Champions League match (see below) and Thai Port’s friendly match against J-League 2 side Shonan Bellmare.
 
 
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