THAILAND OPEN T&T CUP CAMPAIGN AGAINST DPR KOREA

Newly-appointed head coach of the Thailand national team Peter Reid is pleased with his players’ fitness but felt that he will be under pressure to do well in his first official assignment.

The Thai team are preparing for the three-team T&T Cup in Hanoi where they will face Vietnam and North Korea, following the withdrawal of Uzbekistan.

The tournament is slated for 28 October to 1 November.

“’Their fitness is very good but the real test will be in a competitive match,”’ said Reid (pic).

“It is like coaching in the Premier League which has a lot of pressure. But as the national coach, I will try my best to bring success to Thailand in the tournament in Hanoi.”

Thailand are using the meet in Hanoi as part of their preparation for the AFF Suzuki Cup 2008 in December where as one of two hosts, they will be anxious to put up a good showing.

The Thais are in Group B of the championship against Malaysia, Vietnam and the first team from the recently concluded qualifiers, Laos.

In Group A, which is based in Jakarta, are hosts Indonesia, Singapore, Myanmar and the second team from the qualifiers which is Cambodia.