I want my players to put on muscle: Kiatisak
Thailand’s King’s Cup-winning squad, led by Somyot Poompanmuang, the president of Football Association of Thailand, signed a book of goodwill to His Majesty’s the King at Salasahathai Samakom inside the Royal Grand Palace yesterday.
The Thai side won a recordingextending 14th title after a gap of nine years, beating Jordan 20 thanks to Kroekrit Thawikan’s secondhalf brace in Sunday’s final at the Rajamangala National stadium.
The Thai players sporting yellow polo shirts, the colour representing HM the King, and black trousers signed the book to express good wishes to the country’s beloved king as hundreds of fans thronged the area.
National coach Kiatisak Senamuang, who won the King’s Cup three times during his playing days, turned his focus on the last-12 round of the World Cup qualifiers due in September.
“We have three months to get them fitter for the big event,” he said referring to the Asian qualifying for 2018 World Cup in Russia.
“I want the players, especially with good pace such as Chanathip Songkrasin, Kroekrit Thawikarn, Theerathon Bunmathan and Tristan Do, to put on more muscle. It would doubly increase their speed, which helps us deal with our opponents better,” said the 42-year-old coach.
Thailand have been drawn in Group B along with Asian champions Australia, continental heavyweights Japan and Saudi Arabia and two other Gulf nations, UAE and Iraq, in the qualifiers. They will open their campaign with a trip to Saudi Arabia on September 1.
