Latest news with #ThaiLeague1
The Star
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Chasing AFF glory
Mission begins: National Under-23 team leaving for Jakarta yesterday. — Bernama PETALING JAYA: A taste of football abroad has given youngster Mohamad Abu Khalil the edge he needs and now he is ready to help Malaysia chase glory at the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Under-23 Championship in Indonesia starting tomorrow. The 20-year-old midfielder, who had stints with Japan's third division club FC Osaka and Thai League 1's Nakhon Pathom United last year, said the experience has been vital to elevating his game. 'My time spent in Japan and Thailand has been beneficial for me as it has matured my style of play. 'We want to win the title, that is our target,' he said before the team departed for Jakarta yesterday. Drawn in Group A, Malaysia will start their campaign against the Philippines on Tuesday, before taking on Brunei on July 18 and hosts Indonesia on July 21. Group B has Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, while Group C consists of Thailand, Myanmar, and Timor-Leste. Mohamad Abu Khalil Mohamad knows the first match against the Philippines will be important to set the tone within the team, but is confident the squad's chemistry will see them perform well. 'The players know each other well, as many come from the JDT Academy and AMD (Akademi Mokhtar Dahari), so now we are united again. 'The team have been working well together and knows what the coach wants from the team,' he said. Meanwhile, head coach Nafuzi Zain also emphasised that the opening fixture against the Philippines is the top priority. 'Even with a win, it won't guarantee anything, but it would help us get closer to our goal,' said Nafuzi. 'The players are in good physical condition, but their mental strength is also important. This is a real test for the team because expectations are high.' The squad have a target of reaching the semi-finals, as the top two teams of each group will advance to the knockout stage. He had set the semi-finals as a minimum target for the team, and knows the clash against Indonesia will be the toughest hurdle. Malaysia's best finish is a fourth placing at the last edition in 2023 Thailand.
Bangkok Post
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Bangkok Post
Buriram's foreign legion ready to strike in defence
The new season of Thai League 1 will kick off on Aug 15 with Ratchaburi taking on newcomers Kanchanaburi Power in the curtain-raiser. Ratchaburi will host the opening game at 7pm. Buriram United will kick off the defence of their title with an away game the next day at Lamphun Warriors. Runners-up Bangkok United will host Rayong at BG Stadium on Aug 17, while BG Pathum United will visit the Sam Ao Stadium to play PT Prachuap. Port are scheduled to host newly promoted Ayutthaya United on the same day. Meanwhile, Buriram unveiled their six new foreign signings on Tuesday. Leading the cast of the Thunder Castle's new foreign stars is Robert Bauer, who won a silver medal with the German national team at the 2016 Olympic Games. Serbian Fejsal Mulic, who has played in the Bundesliga for 1860 Munich, Spanish forward Juan Ibiza, former Red Star Belgrade winger Filip Stojkovic of Serbia, Nemanja Nikolic, also from Serbia, and Austrian midfielder Robert Zulj, who has played in Bundesliga for Bochum and Union Berlin, are the other five players. Meanwhile, the Football Association of Thailand (FAT) has appointed former deputy finance minister Kritsada Chinavicharana and ex-deputy national police chief Pol Gen Winai Thongsong as its new vice-presidents. The appointments were announced on Tuesday by FAT president Nualphan Lamsam. The FAT chief also promised to restructure the national women's football team set-up after its failure to make the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup finals in Australia. The Chaba Kaew lost to India 2-1 in their last Group B match of the qualifying tournament in Chiang Mai last week to finish second to their opponents. Only the group winners qualified for the finals.
Bangkok Post
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Bangkok Post
Football Association of Thailand agrees to let Ikeda stay as Chaba Kaew coach
The Football Association of Thailand (FAT) is keeping faith in Japanese coach Futoshi Ikeda despite the national team's failure to make it to the AFC Women's Asian Cup finals in Australia next year. After a meeting, the FAT confirmed on Monday that Ikeda will continue to coach the Chaba Kaew. Thailand were denied a place in Australia 2026 after they suffered a shock 2-1 defeat at the hands of India at Chiang Mai's 700th Anniversary Stadium on Saturday night. The victory helped India end the qualifying tournament with a perfect 12 points in Group B of the qualifiers as former champions Thailand missed out on the finals. The annual meeting of the FAT executive board committee agreed to let the Japanese tactician continue as the coach of the national women's team, the association's president Nualphan Lamsam told media on Monday. "We have the Asean Women's Championship in Vietnam next month and the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand in December, so we think it will be good for the team to stay under Ikeda," added Nualphan. Buriram sign new players Reigning Thai League 1 champions Buriram United have further strengthened their squad by signing four new players for the new season. Goalkeeper Korraphat Nareechan has moved to the Thunder Castle from Lamphun Warriors, while Pathompol Charoenrattanapirom from Port, and Singapore star Ilhan Fandi and Shinnaphat Leeaoh, both from BG Pathum United, have also joined the club. Top-flight newcomers Kanchanaburi Power have also announced the arrival of Malaysia international Sergio Aguero. The 31-year-old Aguero started his career in his hometown in Argentina and has played for many Malaysian clubs, with his last team being Sri Pahang before moving to Kanchanaburi.
Bangkok Post
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Bangkok Post
FAT agrees to let Ikeda stay as Chaba Kaew coach
The Football Association of Thailand (FAT) is keeping faith in Japanese coach Futoshi Ikeda despite the national team's failure to make it to the AFC Women's Asian Cup finals in Australia next year. After a meeting, the FAT confirmed on Monday that Ikeda will continue to coach the Chaba Kaew. Thailand were denied a place in Australia 2026 after they suffered a shock 2-1 defeat at the hands of India at Chiang Mai's 700th Anniversary Stadium on Saturday night. The victory helped India end the qualifying tournament with a perfect 12 points in Group B of the qualifiers as former champions Thailand missed out on the finals. The annual meeting of the FAT executive board committee agreed to let the Japanese tactician continue as the coach of the national women's team, the association's president Nualphan Lamsam told media on Monday. "We have the Asean Women's Championship in Vietnam next month and the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand in December, so we think it will be good for the team to stay under Ikeda," added Nualphan. Buriram sign new players Reigning Thai League 1 champions Buriram United have further strengthened their squad by signing four new players for the new season. Goalkeeper Korraphat Nareechan has moved to the Thunder Castle from Lamphun Warriors, while Pathompol Charoenrattanapirom from Port, and Singapore star Ilhan Fandi and Shinnaphat Leeaoh, both from BG Pathum United, have also joined the club. Top-flight newcomers Kanchanaburi Power have also announced the arrival of Malaysia international Sergio Aguero. The 31-year-old Aguero started his career in his hometown in Argentina and has played for many Malaysian clubs, with his last team being Sri Pahang before moving to Kanchanaburi.
Bangkok Post
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Bangkok Post
Nishikaya out after nation's winless run
The Football Association of Thailand (FAT) has announced that Thailand's U23 team coach Takayuki Nishikaya and his staff's contracts have been terminated. Nishikaya took over the national U23 side nine months ago and lost all five of his matches in charge. The FAT said it had parted ways with the Japanese coach as he failed to deliver the expected results. Thailand's U23 team are scheduled to participate in the Asean U23 Championship in Indonesia from July 15-31, followed by the AFC U23 Asian Cup qualifiers at home from Sept 1-9 and finally the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand in December this year. Port strengthen squad Port, eager to improve on their third-place finish in 2024-2025 Thai League 1, have officially unveiled their five new foreign signings for the upcoming season. The first player to join the Khlong Toey-based giants was former Bangkok United goalkeeper Michael Falkesgaard. Iraq international defender Rebin Sulaka, who swept the domestic titles with Buriram United twice in the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 seasons, followed and former Colombia U20 striker Brayan Perea was the third player to sign for Port. Brazilian defender Matheus Lins then completed his move to Port from Sheriff Tiraspol in the Moldovan league. Striker Matheus Pato, also from Brazil, has now completed the club's hunt for quality foreign players to strengthen their squad for the new season. The 30-year-old was a member of the Fluminense and Benfica junior sides. Port are scheduled to take part in the PIALA President 2025 tournament in Indonesia from Friday to July 14 to prepare for the 2025-2026 season. Jaroensak rejoins Rabbits Jaroensak Wonggorn has become the second Thai player in a couple of days to end his stay in Japan and return to BG Pathum United for the 2025-2026 season. On Tuesday, the Rabbits announced that midfielder Ekanit Panya had returned to the club after a six-month loan spell with J2 League side Ehime. Pathum on Wednesday confirmed in another media release that Thailand winger Jaroensak Wonggorn had also decided to leave J1 League team Cerezo Osaka and play for his parent club in the new season. Apart from Thai League 1, the Rabbits are set to participate in the FA Cup, League Cup, ACL Two and Shopee Cup competitions.
