Chanathip unfazed by goal drought
Thai soccer team clashes with Brunei today as tennis stars gear up for quarter-final battle with hosts Singapore
>> SINGAPORE: Thailand midfielder Chanathip Songkrasin said yesterday he was not worried that he had not yet scored at the SEA Games.
Having earlier scored several crucial goals for both the full national and U23 teams, the attacking midfielder was expected to enjoy a scoring spree at the SEA Games where the football tournament is for U23 players.
However, Chanathip, dubbed ‘Messi Jay’, has so far failed to find the net at the Singapore Games.
“Scoring goals is not important for me. The most important this is winning,’’ said the BEC Tero star who was Thailand’s flag bearer at yesterday’s opening ceremony.
“I am not feeling the pressure. I want to score. But if I don’t, then it is not a problem. Anyone in the team can score.”
Thailand won their first three matches and will today take on Brunei.
The Thais have already secured a semi-final spot as one of the top two teams of Group B and coach Choketawee Promrut said he would make changes to the line-up.
“We are confident that our 20 players are equally good,” he said.
In their first three games in Singapore, Thailand beat Laos 6-0, beat Timor Leste 1-0 and beat Malaysia 1-0.
In tennis, the Thai women’s team will face hosts Singapore in the quarter-finals today following yesterday’s draw.
There are only eight nations in the women’s team event so participants start in the quarter-finals.
If the Thais get past Singapore, they will face Myanmar or Malaysia in the semi-finals.
The Thais are led by veteran Tamarine Tanasugarn.
“I will play in the team event,’’ she said.
“I want to play in the doubles and mixed doubles but the decision rests with the coach.”
Tennis is making a return to the SEA Games after it was axed at the previous tournament in Myanmar in 2013.