Surachai bets on Thailand

He spent the best part of his playing career in Singapore's S-League. From the late 1990s up to 2005, Surachai Jaturapattarapong, one of Thailand's greatest footballers, had spells with Gombak United and Home United, and the prospect of his native Thailand and his adopted home facing off this week for the right to be called South-east Asia's No 1 footballing nation has caused the memories to come flooding back to the 43-year-old. On December 19, Singapore will host Thailand in the first-leg of the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup final at the Jalan Besar Stadium, with the return-leg on December 22 at Bangkok's Supachalasai Stadium. On paper, Thailand appear favourites, having stormed into the two-legged final with four wins out of five games - their 1-1 draw in the semi-final first-leg against Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur was the only blemish - with centre-forward Teerasil Dangda the tournament's leading scorer with five goals. In contrast, Singapore lost 1-0 to Indonesia in their second group game but still qualified for the last four, where they edged past the Philippines 1-0 on aggregate. Likewise, Surachai, who is now managing Thai Premier League side Chainat FC, believes his country hold the edge as both sides seek a record fourth title. "Man for man, I would give the Thais the edge," the former national assistant coach said in a phone interview from Bangkok yesterday. "Playing away first will also give Thailand the tactical advantage. At least Winfried (Thailand coach Winfried Schafer) knows what is needed for the return leg." There is another reason why Surachai thinks his country will prevail in the battle for regional football supremacy - he sees many similarities between the current team and that fearsome Thai side he once played for as a deep-lying playmaker. In his heydays, Surachai combined with full-back Dusit Chalermsan and midfielders Tawan Sripan and Therdsak Chaiman to supply frontmen Kiatisuk Senamuang, Worawoot Srimaka, Sutee Suksomkit and Natipong Srithong-In in what was known as the "golden generation" which swept AFF titles in 1996, 2000 and 2002. Surachai believes the present-day squad has an equally strong midfield triumvirate in Datsakorn Thonglao, Adul Lahso and Pichitphong Choeichiu - while Teerasil reminds him of Kiatisuk. "I believe the team are ready to win the title and it's high time, too, because Thailand have not won it since 2002," he said. "People say the present Thai team have the potential to go even further with the brand of football they are playing now. "I like to believe so too, but for now, winning the AFF championship must be their immediate target." But he has warned his compatriots not to take Singapore for granted. "There is nothing spectacular in their football but they stick together as a team and that makes them difficult to break down," he said of Radojko Avramovic's Lions. "I bet the Singapore team are prepared to give 200 per cent, not 100 per cent, for the title. And the fact that they have still have the core of the team which beat Thailand in the 2007 final will help them."