By Kitinan Sanguansak – AFF Thai correspondent
Australia’s German coach Holger Osieck will visit the country on a spying mission to watch the Thai national side play Singapore in a friendly match at 7pm tomorrow.
Holger Osieck will head to Bangkok to watch Thailand face Singapore
The Thai team, also coached by a German trainer, Winfried Schaefer, open their World Cup qualifying campaign with a tricky trip to Brisbane, Australia, to face the Socceroos on September 2 before playing host to Oman four day later at Rajamangala National stadium. Saudi Arabia are the other team in Group D.
Thai players yesterday reported for a training camp and started their preparations on the Rajamangala pitch, the venue for the Singapore fixture, under the watchful eyes of Schaefer. Among the 27 players who turned up for training was Bangkok Glass striker Sarayoot Chaikamdee, whose name was not on the initial list released on Friday.
Thailand suffered a blow when the No 1 goalkeeper Kawin Thamsatchanan, who had been included in the team despite an elbow injury, and Chonburi left back Natthapong Samana had to withdraw.
Schaefer said the presence of his countryman Osieck would not be a matter of concern to him. “There is no cause for concern since our approach in the Singapore match would be different from the game in Brisbane,” said the former Cameroon manager.
Schaefer went on to suggest that he was happy with the players at his disposal despite the absence of Muang Thong defender Nataporn Phanrit, who last week collapsed during the League Cup match against Chon Buri.
“We called up Sarayoot because he’s a quality player and he always shows great desire to play for the country. We lost Kawin to injury but Sinthaweechai [Hathairattanakool], the experienced goalkeeper, is available.”
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