SEA GAMES 2011: THAILAND NOT GIVING UP DESPITE LOSS TO MALAYSIA

JAKARTA (10 Nov 2011) – The loss was heart-wrenching, given the confident mood of the Thais prior to their opening game. But after watching his side outplayed 2-1 by nemesis Malaysia in a Group A tie last night, team manager Kasem Jariyawatwong chose to look at the bright side of things.

“We were not playing well at all,” said Kasem after the game. “I don’t know what happened.

“But we are not giving up yet. It was our first game and it was not a good performance. But we still have three more matches to play for and we have little choice but to win all of our remaining games.”

The Thais were all eager to avenge the defeat they suffered at the hands of Malaysia at the SEA Games 2009 which saw them being bundled out at the group stage – thus ending their romp of eight SEA Games gold medal since 1993.

But in their eagerness for the big picture, they missed out on the finer details and as a result, had to contend with the loss to make their passage into the next round that much harder.

Thailand will have an ‘easier’ test against Cambodia tomorrow before they have to crunch up for the games against hosts Indonesia (on 13 November 2011) and then Singapore (on 17 November).

“It is three games and nine points yet to be won, so we have our work cut out,” added Kasem.

SEA GAMES 2011 RESULTS and FIXTURES

GROUP A