Best goals from the 2009 TPL season

I thought we'd end the year with a feast of goals from the 2009 Thai Premier League. Let's hope for much more of the same in 2010!

Goals of the month: March 2009

Goals of the month: April 2009

Goals of the month: May 2009

Goals of the month: June 2009

Goals of the month: July + August 2009

Goals of the month: September 2009

Goals of the month: October 2009

Sasom happy with AFC Cup draw

Sasom Pobpraserd outlines his plans for new season in an interview with www.thaileaguefootball.com. He talks about the AFC Cup draw, new players, and the development of PAT Stadium.

Thanks to Nigb for the video

Thai Port - 2009 Player Awards

Player of the year award (1st place) - Rangsan Iam-Wiroj

Player of the year award (2nd place) - Moudourou Swa-Moise (received by Sasom)

Most promising player award (1st place) - Jirawat Makarom

Most promising player award (2nd place) - Alef Poh-Ji

Photos courtesy of www.thaiportfc.com

Pre-Season: Thai Port 2 - 1 Thanh Hoa

Thai Port carried on their winning start to the pre-season fixtures with a 2-1 win over Vietnamese side Thanh Hoa FC.

Jakkrit Bunkham gave Thai Port the lead in the 44th minute, with a nice header. Another ex Osotspa player, Sarayoot Chaikamdee, made it 2-0 ten minutes into the second half from the penalty spot, to put the victory firmly in Thai Port's grasp.

The visitors managed to score a consolation goal, also from the spot in the 89th minute, which if you have read this, you won't be surprised to learn!


Thai Port: 1. Pattarakorn.T, 6. Rangsan.I, 17. Pongpipat.K, 14. Songsak.C, 7. Kay.L, 8. Jakkrit.B, 11. Jirawat.M, 4. Worawut.W, 26. Alef.P, 5. Yai.N, 10. Sarayoot.C

New signings unveiled...All 9 of them!

Before the match against Thanh Hoa, Pichet Mankong officially unveiled Thai Port's new signings to the fans. I'll give you a brief run down of all 9 of them.

1. Pana Kanchanasomsak - Defender - signed from Thai Air-Force

2. Worawut Wangsawad - Midfielder - signed from TTM Phichit

3. Nontapan Jiensatawong - Full Back - Signed from Nakhon Pathom

4. Sarayoot Chaikamdee - Striker - signed from Osotspa Saraburi

5. Sompong Soleb - Striker - signed from Chula United

6. Yai Nilwong - Attacking Midfielder - signed from Raj Navy Rayong

7. Jakkrit Bunkham - Midfielder - signed from Osotspa Saraburi

8. Narong Wisetsri - Goalkeeper - signed from TTM Phichit

9. Issarapong Lilakorn - Striker - signed from Khon Kaen

2 Thai & 2 Japanese players training with Port

With the AFC Cup player registration deadline on the horizon, Sasom Pobpraserd is busy checking out new players that could bolster the Thai Port squad. As I reported earlier, Masahiro Fukasawa played for 40 minutes against Chonburi in last week's pre-season friendly, but nothing concrete has been confirmed since then. It is rumoured that Pattaya United and Bangkok United are also interested in the former Singapore Armed Forces FC player.

2 Thai players have also been training at PAT Stadium this week - Issarapong Lilakorn from Khon Kaen and Yai Nilwong from Raj Navy Rayong. I saw Issarapong in action twice last season, and he showed flashes of brilliance. You could see why he was called up to the 2008 VFF Cup squad by Peter Reid.

The fourth player on trial is Japanese defender Kimiaki Kinomura (pictured below).

Photo courtesy of Prapojs

Season's Greetings!

Thai Port's dead-ball specialists

Here's a video showing all the free kick goals scored in the first half of the 2009 TPL season. You'll notice that Port midfielder Jirawat Makarom features 4 times. New boy Nontapan Jiensatawong is also featured twice (playing for Nakhon Pathom).

With Jirawat being right footed and Nontapan left footed, it'll give us plenty of options from dead-balls next season. Sarayoot Chaikamdee will also fancy his chances from a free-kick anywhere within 30 yards of goal.

TPL 2009 Free-Kicks

Friendly with V-League team confirmed

Thai Port have confirmed a Christmas Day friendly match with Vietnamese team Thanh Hoa. The match will be played at PAT Stadium and starts at 17:30.

Thanh Hoa were relegated from the V-League after finishing bottom of the table in the 2009 season, with just 19 points from 26 games.

Update: Thanh Hoa FC have recently merged with The Cong FC and will therefore be staying in the V-League next season.

Thanh Hoa & The Cong

Thanh Hoa 1 - 1 Dong Tam Long An

Pre-Season: Chonburi 1 - 2 Thai Port

Thai Port kicked off their pre-season campaign with a 2-1 win at Sirindhorn Stadium. The hosts dominated the first half, but couldn't convert their chances. Half Time 0-0.

The second half was disrupted by a flurry of substitutions, or as Dale put it, 'There were more changes then a Danny La Rue summer season!' Thai Port took the lead after 70 minutes thanks to Teerawut Sanphan via a Jirawat Makarom corner kick. Chonburi hit back 5 minutes later with an equalising goal scored by Supasek Kaikaew (I thought he played for Bangkok United?!). Thai Port new boy, Sarayoot Chaikamdee slotted home an 82nd minute penalty kick to win the game for the visiting team.

I believe that Japanese player, Masahiro Fukasawa came on for Thai Port in the last 40 minutes. I'm not sure if he has signed on a permanent basis, or is just on trial.

Thai Port starting eleven (4-5-1): 1. Patarakorn.T, 6. Rangsan.I, 17. Pongpipat.K, 7. Kay.L, 28. Ittipol.N, 26. Alef.P, 27. Kiatjareon.R, 11. Jirawat.M, 8. Jakkrit.B, 4. Worawut.W, 10. Sarayoot.C

A big thanks to Dale of www.clubwebsite.co.uk/chonburifc/ (who scored a 30 yard screamer in the Fan Club vs Celebs match) for the information. He'll be posting a full match report on his website soon.


Here are some photos from the match.

Sasom interviewed on Channel 3

Thai Port manager Sasom Pobpraserd was interviewed after the FA Cup Final on Thai TV - Channel 3. The Channel is owned and operated by BEC-TERO Co. Ltd, so with Thai Port beating BEC Tero in the final, we spoilt their party somewhat! I'm sure they would have preferred to interview Tawan Sripan (BEC Tero manager) with the FA Cup in his hands, rather than Sasom.

I don't know exactly what is being said in the interview, but it doesn't take a genius to work out that it is FA Cup related!

Part 1

Part 2

Pre-Season: Chonburi vs Thai Port

Thai Port open their pre-season campaign on Saturday 19th December, against Chonburi @ Sirindhorn Stadium, Sri Racha. Before the main event, there is a charity match between two teams of Thai celebrities, which starts at 3:00pm. Tickets cost 100 baht.

Chonburi won 2-1 in both last seasons TPL meetings. They were also the only team to score more than one goal against us a PAT Stadium all season. I'm sure the Port Lions will be keen to taste victory against the Sharks on Saturday!

Here's video of Dale, who is the webmaster of www.clubwebsite.co.uk/chonburifc giving us a very interesting guided tour of Sirindhorn Stadium.

Video from www.thaileaguefootball.com

Thai Football Links

THAI-FUSSBALL: YOUR ONLINE MAGAZINE ABOUT THAI FOOTBALL SINCE 2009: www.thai-fussball.com/en/



THAI LEAGUE FOOTBALL: SHARING THE PASSION: www.thaileaguefootball.com



CHONBURI FC: ENGLISH LANGUAGE WEBSITE (UNOFFICIAL) www.clubwebsite.co.uk/chonburifc



NAKHON RATCHASIMA FC: ENGLISH LANGUAGE WEBSITE (UNOFFICIAL): www.clubwebsite.co.uk/koratfc



MUANGTHONG UNITED FC: ENGLISH LANGUAGE WEBSITE (UNOFFICIAL): www.muangthongunitedfc.blogspot.co.uk/



NONTHABURI FC: ENGLISH LANGUAGE WEBSITE (UNOFFICIAL): www.ekanonthaburi.blogspot.co.uk



BKK FOOTBALL BLOG: THE UNOFFICIAL GUIDE TO FOOOTBALL IN BANGKOK: www.bkkfootballblog.blogspot.co.uk/

Sarayoot Chaikamdee - Videos

Here is some brief video footage featuring Thai Port new boy Sarayoot Chaikamdee. The first clip shows him giving a lesson in finishing on Thai TV, while the second video shows him practicing what he preaches, as he scores for Vietnamese side Binh Dinh against ACB Hanoi.

Sarayoot's finishing masterclass

ACB Hanoi vs Binh Dinh

Thai Port in for Japanese player?

Thai Port are rumoured to be interested in Japanese midfielder Masahiro Fukasawa. The 32 year old has been released by Singapore Armed Forces F.C.

He started his career with J-League team Yokohama F.Marinos, before playing over 100 games for Albirex Niigata. After a spell in Canada with Montreal Impact, Masahiro found himself in Thailand where he spent a season playing for Bangkok University (now Bangkok United) before moving to the Singapore League.

Sarayoot agrees Thai Port deal

According to Siam Sport, Sarayoot Chaikamdee is set to sign a deal with Thai Port in the next few days. His contract with Osotspa Saraburi doesn't officially finish until the end of December, but it seems that an agreement has been made to terminate his contract early, as he has already started training with his new team mates at PAT Stadium.

Thai Port assistant coach, Adebayo Gbadebo, is back in his native Nigeria on a scouting mission with the hope of bringing a player or two over from West Africa to join up with the rest of the squad in January.

Geylang know what to expect from Thai Port

In an interview with the Singapore League website, Geylang United manager Mike Wong, said that despite having never seeing Thai Port in action, he knows what to expect from Geylang's AFC Cup, Group H rivals.

"Looking at Thai Port, a Thai team will always be a Thai team in the way it will play fast football. This team went through their cup winning run beating some good teams along the way, and they’re maintaining most of the squad that won their cup".

Mr Wong went on to say, that despite avoiding some of the stronger teams in the draw, Thai Port will pose just as big a threat. "Any team that goes into the AFC Cup will be a strong enough challenge. It doesn’t matter whether we avoid South China (Hong Kong) and Binh Duong (Vietnam) or not, because Thai Port is just as good".

Geylang are likely to play their AFC Cup home matches at the 6,000 capacity Jalan Besar Stadium, which has an artificial surface. This could well suit Thai Port's passing game. We won 2-0 on the artificial pitch at Chula United last season, a ground where neither of the top 2 TPL teams, Muang Thong United or Chonburi were victorious.

Chula United 0-2 Thai Port

Worawut Wangsawad joins Port from TTM

Worawut Wangsawad has officially become Thai Port's 4th pre-season signing. The 28 year old attacking midfielder was linked with a move to PEA, but chose to join Thai Port. Wise move!

He joins us from TTM Pichit after spending just one season with the club. Before that, he made over 100 appearances for Osotspa, so he will be well acquainted with another of our new boys, Jakkrit Bunkham.

Photo courtesy of Thai Port FC

Geylang United - Videos

Here is some footage of another of Thai Port's future AFC Cup opponents, Geylang United of Singapore. The first video shows highlights of the recent Singapore Cup Final between Geylang United and Bangkok Glass at Jalan Besar Stadium.

The second highlights package is from an 8 goal thriller in the S-League, between Geylang United and DPMM.

Singapore Cup Final: Geylang United 1 - 0 Bangkok Glass

S-League: Brunei DPMM 5 - 3 Geylang United

NT Realty Wofoo Tai Po - Videos

Here is some video footage of one of our AFC Cup opponents Tai Po from Hong Kong. Their fans look like a friendly bunch and they even chant in English which is nice of them!

Hong Kong FA Cup victory

Hong Kong FA Cup Final: Tai Po 4 - 2 TSW Pegasus

Glory Glory Glory Tai Po!

Ole Ole Ole Hoy Hoy Hoy!

Go Go Go Tai Po!

2010 AFC Cup draw - Group H

The draw for the 2010 AFC Cup group stage took place at AFC House in Kuala Lumpur this morning. Thai Port were drawn in Group H with Wofoo Tai Po from Hong Kong, Geylang United from Singapore and one of the losing teams from the ACL qualifying playoff. Presumably we can't be drawn against another Thai team (Muangthong United) or a team from Singapore (Geylang are already in the group), so that would leave either Da Nang of Vietnam, or Sriwijaya of Indonesia.

AFC Cup - East Section - Group H

Thai Port FC - Thai FA Cup winners

Wofoo Tai Po FC - Hong Kong FA Cup winners

Geylang United FC - Singapore Cup winners

+1 of the 3 losing teams from the ACL qualifying play-off



The 4 teams in the ACL qualifying play-offs are:

Muangthong United FC - Thai League winners

Sriwijaya FC - Copa Indonesia winners

Singapore Armed Forces FC - Singapore League winners

Da Nang FC - Vietnam League winners

Teams competing in the 2010 AFC Cup must register their players by the 23rd of January. For a much more detailed insight into the competition click here.

Jakkrit Bunkham signs in at PAT Stadium

Jakkrit Bunkham is officially a Thai Port player having signed a 2 year deal with the club. The former Osotspa man told thaiportfc.com that he wants to help the team compete for honours, and achieve its ambitious aims.

PAT Stadium to get 50 million baht facelift

Thai Port President, Pichet Mankong has set a 50 million baht budget to improve both the playing and viewing facilities at PAT Stadium before the start of the 2010 season. The clubs plans are to:

a) Improve the floodlights so they meet the requirements set by the AFC.

b) Re-lay the pitch.

c) Add more seats, to increase the capacity to 10,000.