Thailand coach wishes to face Vietnam again in the future

In the opening match at King’s Cup 2019, Vietnam national team met difficulties and pressure from the host Thailand. However, Park Hang-seo’s side proved comfident and clinched the win running to the final against Curacao.

Vietnam forward Anh Duc’s goal in injury time to Kawin’s net was Thai goalkeeper’s mistake leading to Thailand’s conceded goal.

Sharing in a training session ahead of the match against India, Kawin confessed: “When Vietnam scored from Anh Duc’s header, I pushed the ball over the cossbar yet it swirled back and felt into the goal. I must have done better in that situation”.

I was absolutely stable mentally. I disappointed about my performance but I will fight and improve myself. Thailand NT serves fans. They have the right to speak and criticise us for any thing. We must accept the truth, wether the comments were good or not”.

Kawin Thamsatchanan is a familiar name to Vietnamese football. This goalkeeper is playing football for Oud-Heverlee Leuven club in Belgium's second division. He used to join the Thai team to win the 2013 Sea Games gold medal, and won the AFF Cup 2014, 2016.

In Muangthong United, he won the Thai League championship in 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2016. Before Kawin, Thai football had seen two players playing in Belgium: Eakachai Phonthongthin and Teeratep Winothai.

Currently, Kawin is the center of criticism from media as well as Thai fans. This is his first comeback after 8 months because of injury reasons, he immediately made the mistake causing the home team to fail.

However, Kawin is still the best goalkeeper that Thailand has in the squad since Sirisak doesn’t have any other reliable backups.

Despite many criticisms, the goalkeeper is reported to rarely watch news in newspapers or television. Instead, Kawin called on the Thai team to stand up and beat India to take 3rd place in King's Cup 2019.