The future of Thailand’s national team head coach Kiatisuk Senamuang is in doubt after the War Elephants were eliminated from the third round of World Cup qualification.
A heavy 4-0 defeat against Japan put an end to hopes of qualifying for 2018 World Cup as the Thais are at the bottom of their group with no wins from 7 matches.
On Thursday, Football Association of Thailand President Somyot Poompanmuang added more grist to the rumour mill with a brusque comment: “Sooner or later there needs to be a change.”
The Thais’ latest setback came hot on the heels of their comprehensive 3-0 loss at home to Saudi Arabia, who are tied with Japan on 16 points with three games left to play.
While expressing appreciation for the job Kiatisuk has done, Somyot suggested that time for a change may have come.
“I hold Kiatisuk in high regard. What I’ve experienced working with him is that he’s a Thai coach with good discipline. He does his job and players respect him. That’s something any coach should have,” Somyot said of the man who guided the country to a record-breaking fifth ASEAN Championship title in December.
“However, there are a lot of things we need to think about in order to move forward as I want to see us among the leading countries in Asia.”
“On the question of whether there should be a coaching change, I myself would like to know what Thai people are thinking about it. Are we on the same page? Do we think the same? Is it okay to keep it like this, winning the SEA Games and Suzuki Cup and then suffering 3-0 or 4-0 defeats on the continental stage.”