TOP STARS FOR WORLD CUP IN THAILAND

BANGKOK (Feb 16, 2007) – Former World Cup stars – and there’s going to be a number of them – will be congregating in the town on Chon Buri in April to participate in the second Senior World Cup.

Among the earliest names to have confirmed their participation in this tournament from April 23-28 are German legends Horst Hrubesch and Manfred Kaltz.

The former Hamburg players will line up to face their former contemporaries in this event which has so far attracted six teams.

Apart from Germany and Thailand, the other countries that have confirmed their entries are Australia, United Arab Emirates, South Korea and defending champions Taiwan.

The organisers are hoping to receive positive responses from the likes of Brazil, Switzerland, China and Japan.

The Thai team are taking this tournament seriously and have been training for the past two months under experienced coach Cherdsak Chaiyabutr, a former Thai national team striker.

Leading the Thai strike force will be one of Asia’s greatest strikers, Piyapong Pue-on.

The gifted forward, who used to strike fear in the hearts of defenders, will be joined by former Thai stars like Thanis Aree-Sa-Ngakul, the Under-17 national team coach, former national goalkeeper Vilas Nomjarean, Taweerak Sitipultong, Viroj Ploog-Jai and Punsak Gatewanta.

Thailand will face Germany in their opening match on April 23.

The opening match and the final will be televised live on Channel 11.