‘Away’ is the new ‘Home’

“Is that all you take away?” goes a famous British terrace chant used by home fans to mock teams who turn up with paltry away support. Not words likely to come from the lips of Siam Navy fans this weekend as Chonburi come to visit. The Sharks will be bringing upwards of 8,500 fans with them for the simple reason that Siam Navy’s home stadium, albeit temporarily, is actually the IPE Stadium in Chonburi. The club-formally-known-as-Navy-Rayong was kicked out of Rayong during the close-season as a bitter power struggle ended with the Royal Thai Navy retaking full control of the club. The club found refuge in Chonburi, and intends to move to Sattahip mid-season, but the thousands that used to follow Navy Rayong have now deserted the club in favour of PTT Rayong of Division 1 and Rayong F.C of Division 2. As Such, Chonburi fans should outnumber the home fans by at least ten to one on Sunday evening.

Return to Ramallah
In March Thailand made history by being the first international side to play a competitive match against Palestine in the Palestinian Territories in a 2012 Olympics Qualifier. Now Thailand could once again be facing Al-Fida'i in competitive action after the draw for the first two rounds of 2014 World Cup Qualifying was made on Wednesday. The Thais will have to contest another tricky two-legged tie against The Reds in July if Palestine can see off Afghanistan in the first round.

This Weekend
Every other game will be a mere sideshow this weekend in comparison with the main event at the Yamaha Stadium on Saturday (6pm). Reigning champions Muangthong United are at home to the team that many think will be champions come December: Buriram PEA. The visitors are already three points clear at the top and six points clear of MTU. It’s ridiculously early to be talking about ‘title deciders,’ but closing a nine-point-gap on a side as good as PEA would be an almost impossible job for the 2010 champions, should the men from south Isaan triumph in Nonthaburi. On the other hand, the Twin Qilins will catapult themselves back into the title race should they win. Whatever you’ve got planned, cancel it. You need to be in front of your TV (TrueSport 2) or, better still, be at the Yamaha Stadium come six o’clock tomorrow.

Elsewhere in the city, Army United will be hoping to recapture their very early season form at home to Chiang Rai United on Saturday (6pm) at the Army Stadium, Din Daeng. And on Sunday, the poor Yamaha Stadium pitch will be used for the second time in 24 hours as TOT – winless, goal-less, and pointless (literally) – host Bangkok Glass in a derby-of-sorts. BEC Tero Sasana are away at Sisaket, and Police United are away at Sriracha (both 6pm, Saturday), and Thai Port are away at Osotspa-Saraburi on Sunday (6pm).

In Division 1, the big game is at Bangkok University, Rangsit on Saturday as third-place Bangkok United host top-of-the-table F.C Phuket (6pm). Air Force United are away at Chiang Mai on Saturday (6pm) and Bangkok F.C take on Buriram F.C in Buriram on Sunday (6pm).