Not just Thai clubs changing names.....

HANOI (1 Nov 2009) – Fourth Military Zone have become the second team in the V-League to be taken over a private corporation following that of The Cong.

National army team The Cong was renamed after their long-time sponsor Viettel last month while this time round, Navibank have taken over the administration of Fourth Military Zone.

“Navibank have bought the club, so the club will be called Navibank. I and all the players will also be managed by the bank,” said head coach Vu Quang Baoen.

HCMC-based Navibank will make a public announcement of the new name in Ho Chi Minh City this week.


http://www.aseanfootball.org/news_d.asp?id=1088

Robson Watch

It's fair to say that Bryan Robson didn't pick the squad for the recent Kata Cup tournament played down in Phuket, but did he take any notice of the personnel on show?

Robson's first real opportunity to show us that he is an international football manager comes next week against Syria. A Syrian side that is more than likely going to be depleted due to the majorty of the sqaud playing for Syrian national champions Al Karamah in the AFC Cup final on Tuesday.

What can we expect to see from Robson's first match in charge? Who knows, but this is my call....

Without knowing the squad, i will use my crystal ball.

I expect to see Kittisak Rawangpa back in goal due to Kosin flying off to Indonesia. I think Kittisak is needed as an old head for the double header with Singapore ahead.

Nattaporn Phanrit has always impressed me in defence, probably due to the fact that i saw him score his first two international goals, but at times he does lack concentration along with Nattaphong Samana, whom some people rave about, but personally i can't stand him. But i d see these guys taking a centre back and left back spot

Therdsak Chaiman to be used for 20 minutes at the end of the game to 'up' the tempo, which may well be needed against Singapore. May be too risky to play he with Thonglao due to both being playmakers.

We need some kind of midfield destroyer, Surat Sukha comes to mind, but, lets assume he's often unavailable due to being in 'oz', so Nuchnum or Choeichiu, i like these guys, they are steady going.

Up front, last year Dangda impressed me in the air, but doesn't do much else, so i'd like to see a livewire playing, and everyone knows i'm calling for Anon Sangsanoi to be included on a more regular basis.

So Bryan, there's my early thoughts, what about yours?

Time for a closer look at....Rattana Bundit

Rattana Bundit Football Club

Nickname: RBAC
Founded: 1998 off the back of BMA
Stadium: Rattana Bundit University Stadium

Honours

1998 Yamaha Cup

History

Rattana Bundit FC were born off the back of Bangkok Metropolitan Administration FC whom went bankrupt in the Asian Finanical Crisis of 1998. Bangkok Metropolitan Administration FC themselves took over from SET FC (Stock Exchange of Thailand) in similar circumstances in the early years of the Thailand Premier League.

SET FC reached the championship final playoff match in 1997 were they came up against Bangkok Bank FC in which they lost 2-0. Bangkok Bank FC therefore claimed in the inaugural Thailand Premier League title and SET FC claimed the runners up spot.

Following a new set-up for the Thailand Premier League 1997 season, SET FC, played under the name Bangkok Metropolitan Administration FC and cam in a creditable 7th position. The following year, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration FC fell down the league table and finished in 11th position, which forced the club to enter the promotion / relegation end of season playoff match. Here they met Assumption Sriraja. This year also saw Bangkok Metropolitan Administration FC first piece of silverware as they won the 14th Yamaha Thailand Cup, beating Nakhon Si Thammarat in the final.

In the Thailand Premier League 1999 season they moved up the table and finished in 9th position, an improvement on the previous year. The Thailand Premier League 2000 season was BMA's last as they finished in 4th position but feel on hard times and were replaced by Rattana Bundit FC the following year in the Thailand Premier League. It is believed that the club uses the same badge but plays under a different name from BMA and has closer links to the university in the area.

In their first appearance in the Premier League under their newly formed club, Rattana succumbed to relegation to the Thailand Division 1 League, after they could only total 18 points and only 10 goals in 22 matches in a very poor season.

Since relegation, Rattana have been a mid table team in the 1st Division and occasionally playing with fire in the relegation spots, only to pull away in the closing stages of the season.


Previous Names
SET FC (Stock Exchange of Thailand FC)
BMA FC (Bangkok Metropolitan Administration FC)


This article, it must be sadi, was created with the help of Wikipedia, but none the less, I created that article, so take full credit!!

Dates for the Diary

Jan 17th - 23rd - 40th King's Cup

Mar 6 - Start of FA Cup

Mar 6/7 - Start of TPL

Mar 9/10 - Start of Div 1

Apr 1 - Start of Regional Leagues

Dec 1 to 29 - 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup

Special Announcment

With immediate effect, this blog will now go on hold.

Come 8 months down the line, there will be a little Druryfire running around. Names in a postcard (or comment) please. Many thanks for my lovely wife Suwanlee for putting up with me. Married one year and still going strong.

You never know, SEA Games 2029, there might just be a 'Drury' lifting that cup!

The time has now come, to put blogging to the side.

Many thanks to all you guys who have taken the time to read the blog in the past, but don't worry, i'm sure i will be back to blog again in the future. As for now, you can find me on the www.thaifootball.com forum.

Many Regards


Adam

Regional League South Division

Regional League South Division is the 3rd Level League in Thailand. It was formed in 2009 along with other four other regional leagues, all playing at the same level. The winner of each regional league enter the Regional League Championships to determine the three teams that will receive promotion to the Thai Division 1 League

League History
Formed in 2009, initally 9 clubs applied to be part of the new setup; Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Narathiwat, Pattani, Phattalung, Phuket, Satun, Yala and Tartauo. Come decision day, Tartauo either failed to apply on time, or were not accepted into the new setup.

Narathiwat and Satun were the only two teams with previous experience in the Thai football league system.

Narathiwat won the first ever championship and took the Regional League championship allocation, winning the division on goal difference from Satun.

Timeline

2009: 1st ever Regional League South starts.
2009: 1 club (Phuket) enters the FA Cup
2009: 8 Clubs enter first ever championship

Championship History

Season 2009:

1st: Narathiwat
2nd: Satun
3rd: Nakhon Si Thammarat


More can be found in the new article i've created: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regional_League_South_Division

2010 King's Cup

Ok, no news here.

Just want to rattle a few brains and keep to the back of your minds.

When will the yearly King's Cup be played in 2010?

Normally at the beginning of the year or right at the end. So lets look at a few possibilties:

Early 2010 - Off the back of the Asian Cup qualifier against Jordan. Could be a good opportunity to bring in such nations as Denmark (again) and Sweden, who may well use games to build up for the World Cup, should give us some good match pratcice for the Asian Cup game against Iran.

Late 2010 - hopefully we will have qualified for Qatar 2011, so what better practice for that than getting a King's Cup title under out belts?

Who would you like to see appear, assuming the King's Cup is played??

Early 2010, i'd like to see us test the likes of Bahrain, lets see what is just special about them. But then again, they will have a full schedule come then (about 4games in Asian Cup to get in.)

Late 2010, 2011 Asian cup hosts Qatar, nothing better than piting off against an West Asian nation.

Personally, i'd like to see us entertain more Middle Eastern nations, we normally fall short against these nations when it matters, so maybe we should get more practice in against them?

So, i'm thinking it this already, mayeb to far ahead of myself. But i would like to know what Bryan Robso is thinking? Games, preperation or beach?