JAKARTA (6 Nov 2011) – To regain the SEA Games gold medal they lost to Malaysia two years ago, the FA of Thailand (FAT) have offered their players a reward of USD 327,000 (THB 10 million) should they prove to be successful
The FAT and their sponsors will chip in USD196,00 (THB 6 million) with the remaining USD131,000 (THB4 million) will come from the government.
The Thais, who had been winning the SEA Games gold medal for eight editions in a row since 1993, stumbled in the group stage two years ago in Laos to two late strikes from Malaysia.
“In the previous SEA Games, we underestimated our opponents quite a lot. We thought that no one could beat us but that attitude led to us being eliminated in the first round. That was a big lesson so we will not underestimate any side this time,” said Datuk Worawi Makudi, the president of the FA of Thailand (FAT).
“We aim to win the gold medal and anything less will be deemed a failure.”
Thailand are in Group A of the biennial championship alongside defending champions Malaysia, hosts Indonesia, Singapore and Cambodia.
And with them having the day off on the first match day of Group A tomorrow, the Thais will have the chance to assess their opponents when Singapore take on Malaysia in the first game and then Cambodia playing hosts Indonesia in the second tie at the Stadion Utama Gelora Bung Karno.
Thailand open their campaign at the SEA Games against Malaysia on 9 November 2011.
“The first match is always difficult but the only thing we want is win,” added Kasem Jariyawatwong, the Thai team manager.
“It is good to be in a difficult group because this will be a good test for us,” he added. “If we get past the first round, we will have a good chance of winning the gold medal.
“As a lot of Thais are hit by the floods, we will try to do our best to win the gold medal for them.”
SEA GAMES 2011 FIXTURES
GROUP A
| DATE | MATCH | GROUP | KICK OFF | VENUE | ||
| 07.11.2011 | SINGAPORE | vs | MALAYSIA | A | 1600 hrs | GELORA BUNG KARNO |
| INDONESIA | vs | CAMBODIA | 1900 hrs | |||
| 08.11.2011 | REST DAY | |||||
| 09.11.2011 | MALAYSIA | vs | THAILAND | A | 1600 hrs | GELORA BUNG KARNO |
| CAMBODIA | vs | SINGAPORE | 1900 hrs | |||
| 10.11.2011 | REST DAY | |||||
| 11.11.2011 | SINGAPORE | vs | INDONESIA | A | 1400 hrs | GELORA BUNG KARNO |
| THAILAND | vs | CAMBODIA | 1700 hrs | |||
| 12-11.2011 | REST DAY | |||||
| 13.11.2011 | MALAYSIA | vs | CAMBODIA | A | 1600 hrs | GELORA BUNG KARNO |
| INDONESIA | vs | THAILAND | 1900 hrs | |||
| 14.11.2011 | REST DAY | |||||
