Published on July 25, 2005

[SOCCER] Thai head coach Chanvit Polchivin is still optimised about the future of his young gun team despite their 1-0 loss to Bolton in the Premier League Asia Trophy on Saturday, saying Thai fans should be proud of them.

El-Hadji Diouf’s goal from a spot-kick earned Bolton some silverware before the English Premier League kicks off next month. Thailand were unlucky not to go ahead many times during the final, and the team proved they could hold their own against a leading English side.

“I’m very proud of my team because they played well against Everton and Bolton, which were fourth and sixth in the English Premier League. My team is an under-23 side and I’m satisfied with their standard of their play,” said Chanvit, who has a lot of confidence in his young squad.

“We prepared the team for nine months. When you consider that their average age is only 21, all Thais should be proud that they played so well against those professional teams,” he said.

When asked about the penalty, which resulted from a hand-ball by a Thai defender, the Thai coach said it was the referee’s decision, but he accepted it.

“The penalty was up to the referee. I respect his verdict, but it was a little bit disheartening,” he said.

The national team’s head coach has high hopes for his squad’s next tournaments, the University Games in August followed by the SEA Games in November.

“I expect we’ll finish in quite high a position in the University Games and also at the SEA Games, where we must to be champions. My boys are still young and they have much potential to improve. We have learned a lot from those two English teams,” Chanvit said.

“Maybe next year we’ll invite other teams to play,” he added.

His English counterpart Sam Allardyce was impressed by the young Thai players.

“We are very pleased to win what was a competitive tournament,” he said.

“I felt in both games we adapted to the conditions extremely well. Today [Saturday] the Thai side were very sharp and technically very good. They caused us a few problems.

“We had to cope with them and it was not easy,” said the Bolton manager, who added with a laugh that the trophy was the first for the club in 50 years.

“In the second half we controlled the game. Our fitness and ability made the difference. But we only won with a penalty kick,” added The Trotters’ boss.

Thailand will have another big game against Spanish giants Real Madrid, who are now on their Asian tour and in Japan. The match will again be at the Rajamangala Stadium on Friday.

Montreechai Lumyongsatian

The Nation

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