Why I didn't bother giving a full fixture list

For those not yet aware, the fixture list for 2011 has been dramatically changed. As thai-fussball.de reports:

If you looked at the frame schedule of the 2011 season a few weeks ago, you easily could see that the season will end in October. After the league meeting between all the clubs at the beginning of this week, things changed dramatically. According to the recent released schedule, as of 2nd February, we will not see the new champions be crowned before end of January 2012.

....

This season we will have the break after match day 15. During October an November there are even 3 rounds only. Reason for that are the SEA-Games in Indonesia. Taking place from 11 to 25 November

...

Last but not least, the 41st Kings Cup, is scheduled for December. From 3rd to 10th December the annual tournament is planned to be held. ...

There are no official FIFA dates during that time frame. So it is most unlikely that all the star players of the respective national sides would be released by their clubs. .....

It may be a good thing not to have many games in October if this year's monsoon is anything like the last, and we can hardly blame Worawi for trying to fix a lighter schedule considering the flak he continues to receive for last year's debacle. But then, you have to wonder just how competently this is all being done. Such a sweeping change to the fixtures less than a month after they were announced is hardly suggestive of forward planning.

As Lokomotive points out, we have some real questions here. What are the odds that the King's Cup is suddenly ordered to go ahead in December as the TPL title race is entering the final furlong? If the season finishes in January, when will the next one start? It's no good pacing this season nicely if the players get two weeks for their end of season break. With the start of Division 2 being delayed by two weeks, will we finally see seasons overlap as we so nearly did this year?

In summary then, this seems like a good move that has been hastily decided and may well backfire if more forward planning isn't employed.

Interview with Pipat Waramethpipat

I introduced Pipat recently and today he kindly spent some time answering my questions about Muangthong United  and the Thai fans' protest against Thai FA president Worawi Makudi.

How long have you supported MTU?
More than two years now. I was already supporting them when they won Division One and  I wanted to help fans prepare for the first year in the TPL.

And how did you become leader of the fan club?
Actually I'm not the leader, though some fans do call me so. I share ideas with the fans both old and new and I try to act as a communication point.

How did you become leader of the protests against Worawi?
It started in Laos when Thailand played there and had a bad result. At this game, some of us Thai fans were talking and we decided we'd like to share our ideas with the Thai FA. After this we had another poor performance so we decided to go ahead with our plans.


The staff at the Thai FA could be considered Phuu-Yai (big, rich or important people). Did you feel nervous about meeting or protesting against them?

Not really, because I work for an international company and I have experience of the international style of dealing with things that is: if there is a problem, we should talk about the problem to solve it. I want to be very clear that I fully respect the staff  but I want us to talk about problems with the Thai team to make things better.

I also saw a lot of cameras, reporters and microphones in your face. Did you have experience of dealing with that or was it new to you?
That was a new experience. But again I have experience with communication so I think that helped me.

Do you think Worawi should resign?
Actually he can't resign because he is a FIFA member and if he resigns, he automatically loses that spot. What we want is a new direction and approach from the TFA.

Will the protests continue?
Yes. This month we are forming the Thai Football Supporters Association. The plan is to be a 'middle person' with the TFA. We can share ideas, experiences and problems between the TFA and the fans.

The first meeting is tomrrow Deecember 5th at 8pm in the Thai Restaurant next to National Stadium BTS Station.

Finally, who do you think will win the Thai Premier League next season?
For sure, Muangthong! But I think the standard will be higher than ever and competition will be good. I want to be clear that although I am involved with the MTU fanclub and the Thai fans' protest, it doesn't automatically mean I representing all Muangthong fans in the Worwai protests, I'm just expressing my own opinion.

*********************

Thanks to Pipat for his time and permission to use his photos. He has also kindly offered to keep us informed of future developments. Like all the team at MTU, Pipat is always willing to chat and offer support.

***************
As always, this interview has been slightly paraphrased for conciseness. Any errors are wholly my own.

Pipat leads the way

Pipat Waramethpipat is a leader at the MTU fan club and can be found at any game with megaphone in hand, none of those dancing antics mind you! Pipat also speaks excellent English and works hard to make any new fans - Thai or farang - feel welcome. He's been with the club since Division 2 so that's a lot of new fans!

No fear for Pipat

For the last few weeks Pipat has been leading fans of all Thai clubs in a protest against the incompetent tribe at the Thai FA and the problems they have caused the Thai national team by pointless fixture rearrangements, the introduction of the Toyota League Cup halfway through a season and general lack of organisation.

Thai FA President Worawi Makudi claimed the fixture congestion towards the end of last season was caused by postponements due to rain and political upheaval. It is, simply, not true.

Fans united

It's good to see fans united for the good of Thai football and I know every farang fan I have spoken to supports the peaceful protest.

Photo credits as shown on watermark.