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| Inaugural MVP Therdsak Chaiman is returning to the AFC Champions League for the first time since 2003. (WSG / Getty Images) |
SINGAPORE – It is fitting that as Singapore Armed Forces embark on their historic first ACL campaign one of their key players will be an individual who has himself made history in Asia’s premier club competition.
The man is mercurial Thai midfielder Therdsak Chaiman and the moment he authored his name in the annals of AFC Champions League history came in October 2003 when, at the end of the second leg of the inaugural final, he was named the first MVP of the groundbreaking tournament.
It was a bittersweet moment for the talented Therdsak. His penalty on the hour-mark ultimately saw BEC Tero Sasana beat Al Ain 1-0 on the night but it was not enough to reduce the two-goal deficit from the first leg in the UAE.
“It really made me proud and it was an honour to be the first MVP at ACL level,” the effervescent 35-year-old told www.the-afc.com.
“The memory is still fresh in my mind and clear in my eyes,” said Therdsak, who has already reminded Asian football fans of the quality he possess during the play-offs, scoring three and setting up two in SAF’s matches with Thai champions Provincial Electricity Authority and PSMS Medan of Indonesia.
Inspired the virtuoso performances of Therdsak, and capitalising on their home field advantage in the group stage and the semi-final against Pakhtakor, BEC Tero overcame supposedly superior opponents to set up the decisive clash with Al Ain in the first AFC Champions League.
And it was a campaign that Therdsak believes brought credibility to ASEAN football.
“The high point was that Thai club showed that we were good and strong enough to reach the final, or even win the title.
“The low point for me and for the team was the controversial disallowed goal; it was a clear goal in my opinion. It changed the whole thing and that left us extremely disappointed.”
Now, some six-years after the heartbreak of losing the final and the joy of being named the AFC Champions League’s best player, Therdsak is again looking to help prove that ASEAN sides can compete with Asia’s strongest, as Singapore’s Warriors embark on their first ACL mission.
“This is the top Asian teams that we are competing against…they are professional players from Japan, Korea and the Middle East countries,” stated Therdsak.
“The style, pace, speed and rhythm of the game will be fast and tough so we need to concentrate on teamwork and make sure that we don’t panic when we face moments of pressure.”
Meanwhile, the inaugural ACL MVP looks to repeat the form of 2003 when Singapore Armed Forces make their AFC Champions League debut against Shanghai Shenhua on Wednesday, a team that Therdsak has fond memories of playing.
“The match against Shanghai in 2003 was a memorable moment in my career because I helped BEC Tero go through to the next round by scoring the winning goal,” said Therdak, who would, no doubt, be more than happy for history to repeat itself in SAF’s seminal Champions League campaign.”
- Nick McCormack
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