FOOTBALL IN THAILAND...
In this World Cup period, let's do a little roundup on football in Thailand.
Thailand is a country where football is a very popular sport and even the most popular of Western sports.
The craze is real and growing since the years 90 when the prime Minister of the time, Taksin, wealthy industrialist today in exile, was the head of Manchester United.
In fact the Thais are especially interested in the English Championship which is broadcast in most restaurants and bars, including in nightclubs.
In spite of this Thailand has never achieved great things in football, its best result having been a third place in the Asian Cup in 1972.
Thailand has been affiliated with FIFA since 1925 and now occupies the 118th place in the ranking.
No qualifying shadows or lesser chance of qualifying in the World Cup.
There are however in Thailand 130 clubs including 35 in Bangkok.
However, we are amazed to see very little of the stadium worthy of the name across the country, with a few exceptions.
There are a number of reasons for that.
First of all a stage is expensive in maintenance, it takes staff and the more we are in latitudes where the climate leads to a struggle of every moment to maintain the lawns that easily fry in the sun.
Secondly, the poverty of the infrastructures when they exist, does not allow to actually project themselves in competitions even regional.
Finally, even if football is extremely popular it is especially in the follow-up of the Games of the English Championship more than by a sport practice.
However, we can see that the number of supporters going to watch the matches or following the Thai Championship on television believes very quickly, a sign of a lasting change.
Sport No. 1 in terms of practice remains Thai boxing which is practiced everywhere and allows to easily express itself by opening real career opportunities for the best who are real stars.
There are nevertheless some good-known clubs in Thailand that recruit a few days of international class (Ivorian, French...) including the flagship club of Buriram.
From a general point of view things are changing, with the government showing a real willingness to invest in infrastructure to allow training.
This is a good thing but the road is still long because, in addition to the infrastructure, we will then have to create training centres, recruit trainers and structure the whole to grow progressively.
Currently there are only very few schools and the ones that exist have only the name, proposing little more than a training per week (except a few exceptions).
Nevertheless the will is there and pledge that in the future the country will be able to equip itself with real structures and find the way to the construction of a strong national team that... know-one ever, is capable of qualifying for a World Cup, which would be a great First....
Thailand is a country where football is a very popular sport and even the most popular of Western sports.
The craze is real and growing since the years 90 when the prime Minister of the time, Taksin, wealthy industrialist today in exile, was the head of Manchester United.
In fact the Thais are especially interested in the English Championship which is broadcast in most restaurants and bars, including in nightclubs.
In spite of this Thailand has never achieved great things in football, its best result having been a third place in the Asian Cup in 1972.
Thailand has been affiliated with FIFA since 1925 and now occupies the 118th place in the ranking.
No qualifying shadows or lesser chance of qualifying in the World Cup.
There are however in Thailand 130 clubs including 35 in Bangkok.
However, we are amazed to see very little of the stadium worthy of the name across the country, with a few exceptions.
There are a number of reasons for that.
First of all a stage is expensive in maintenance, it takes staff and the more we are in latitudes where the climate leads to a struggle of every moment to maintain the lawns that easily fry in the sun.
Secondly, the poverty of the infrastructures when they exist, does not allow to actually project themselves in competitions even regional.
Finally, even if football is extremely popular it is especially in the follow-up of the Games of the English Championship more than by a sport practice.
However, we can see that the number of supporters going to watch the matches or following the Thai Championship on television believes very quickly, a sign of a lasting change.
Sport No. 1 in terms of practice remains Thai boxing which is practiced everywhere and allows to easily express itself by opening real career opportunities for the best who are real stars.
There are nevertheless some good-known clubs in Thailand that recruit a few days of international class (Ivorian, French...) including the flagship club of Buriram.
From a general point of view things are changing, with the government showing a real willingness to invest in infrastructure to allow training.
This is a good thing but the road is still long because, in addition to the infrastructure, we will then have to create training centres, recruit trainers and structure the whole to grow progressively.
Currently there are only very few schools and the ones that exist have only the name, proposing little more than a training per week (except a few exceptions).
Nevertheless the will is there and pledge that in the future the country will be able to equip itself with real structures and find the way to the construction of a strong national team that... know-one ever, is capable of qualifying for a World Cup, which would be a great First....
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