Gian Chansrichawla
Football Tribe SEA Editor
Thai League T1 leaders Port FC have made their first signings of the summer transfer window by adding BG Pathum United duo Tanaboon Kesarat and Piyachanok Darit to their ranks to bolster their squad ahead of the second leg of the campaign.
Tanaboon Kesarat is a regular Thai international who made his name first at Police Tero and then Port’s bitter rivals Muangthong United, where he won the 2016 Thai League title. Since then, an injury-ridden spell as captain of Chiangrai United hampered his progress, before a move to BG Pathum United in the second half of the 2018 season.
Operating primarily as a defensive midfielder, proponents of the move suggest that Tanaboon could offer balance to a highly attack-orientated team, and could relieve players such as Go Suel-Ki and Siwakorn Jakkuprasat of their defensive responsibilities to unleash their creative talents. On the other hand, detractors point out that it would be tough to bench any of Port’s current regulars due to their current form; especially Siwakorn, whose recent performances have earned him a call up to the Thai national team.
Whether or not this transfer can work out for the best depends on how he is used within the team setup, and the willingness of coach Jadet Meelarp to rotate and keep all of his players happy.
Meanwhile, center-back Piyachanok Darit came through the ranks at BG, where he has spent the entirety of his career, save for a loan spell at the team’s feeder club. He joins the league leaders on a loan deal which will last until the end of the current season. Given the excellent performances of Elias Dolah for Port this season and the return of captain David Rochela from injury, it seems most likely that Piyachanok has been signed to add further depth to the Klongtoey side’s back-line.
Both players were crucial in the Rabbits’ current campaign in T2 this season, where they have collected 40 points from their opening 15 games and look set for promotion, sitting ten points clear of their nearest challengers.
Port have established a six-point lead atop the Thai League table going into the upcoming international break but could see that gap closed by Buriram United, who currently have two games in hand.