Big boss resigns if Thailand does not win AFF Cup 2018
The Thai national team has been ordered to use its strongest squad in the AFF Suzuki Cup 2018 to successfully defend its title. If it fails, Technical Director Witthaya Laohakul will resign.
The first month of 2018 was a heavy one for Thai football. The defeat of the Thai U23 team in the 2018 AFC U23 Championship, in the context of two neighboring opponents, U23 Malaysia and U23 Vietnam, both creating historic milestones (Malaysia entered the quarterfinals for the first time while Vietnam won the runner-up position) in China, put the Football Association of Thailand (FAT) under tremendous pressure from public opinion.
Faced with the above situation, President Somyot Poompunmuang and Technical Director Witthaya Laohakul had to hold an urgent meeting with Head Coach Milovan Rajevac of the Thai team to discuss the preparation plan for the King's Cup taking place from March 23-25 and further for the AFF Cup - a tournament in which Thailand won two consecutive championships in 2014 and 2016.
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| Mr. Witthaya Laohakul announced his resignation as Technical Director of the Football Association of Thailand if the national team fails at the AFF Cup 2018. |
First of all, in the King's Cup tournament that Thailand plays as host, along with 3 guests, Slovakia, Gabon and UAE national teams, coach Rajevac will call up some young faces to the national team. Besides, he will also call up players playing abroad including goalkeeper Kawin Thamsatchanan, defender Threerathon Bunmathan, midfielder Chanathip Songkrasin and striker Teerasil Dangda to the squad.
The four faces spread across all the above lines will also be the pillars in the squad that FAT requested to be the strongest for the Thai national team in the AFF Suzuki Cup 2018. The reason for this order is also because Thai football is receiving a lot of criticism from the public. Technical Director Witthaya even bet his seat in the tournament taking place at the end of the year. If Thailand cannot successfully defend the championship, he will resign.
“It will be a disaster for Thai football if the national team uses a young squad and cannot defend the AFF Cup championship. We will have to send out our strongest force for this tournament. If we fail, I will resign,” Mr. Witthaya shared with Bangkok Post.