You talk about growing up and being part of the team. With the Muangthong kids, they just won T4 and have been training with the first team. We’ve seen many times that Thai kids work well as part of the team, but they can’t make the jump to the first team and fall to the side. What are your thoughts on the kids here?
I grew up in Europe, I see that when young kids come up they are happy and proud of themselves. I was the same when I was 17, I thought ‘oh, I did it.’ But, to make the next step is the difficult part. Especially when the older players are there, you are a bit scared, you have too much respect. But on the field, you have to forget it. That’s what is missing here.
For example, look at Datsakorn. If he was playing, nobody would touch him because hey, he’s Datsakorn. But it is exactly this [aspect] that you have to change as a young kid. Look at Peem [Patcharapol Intanee] – he is exactly that. He is always asking me, and I try to help him. He sees me as an older brother or something, because we are very close, often roommates, and now we have played together for many games. He is an amazing player because he is different. He has a different attitude, he can already speak English. Things like this make a difference and explains why he is where he is now. Gama gave him the opportunity and he took it. That’s what young Thai players have to realize when they get the opportunity they have to be ready because you might not get many chances.
So how was your upbringing in Switzerland different to what the kids get over here? What are the kids missing in their training here that you got?
When I was young, I went to a sport school where I studied as well. So I had training about 8-10 times [a week]. I see here, they have maybe four times a week. So I had that and school as well. I would wake up at six and get back home at nine. I had a lot of friends who were not playing football, and they would ask me to go out, and I said that I couldn’t because I had to study and train the next day. You really have to sacrifice if you want to make it, and I think many people understand that.
Of course, it is a big privilege. The ‘football life’ is amazing right now, but you have to understand when you can enjoy life and when you have to train. I am also lucky that I have a dad who supported me from day one. I don’t think many kids here in Thailand have the privilege where a dad can support them and bring them [to football], so I was lucky in that sense. But it’s about training, and I’m not saying you have to train ten times, but you have to train well and choose to take pleasure in the right moment. I am really thankful that my parents taught me these things.
You mentioned Peem, who recently got a call-up to the senior national team. How has his development been this year?
He’s been excellent. Last year he played many games as well as a center-back, and this year he has moved into midfield, and I think he also played many games with Gama in the U23’s. Defensively he is amazing. He still has to improve, and he knows this by himself. He is a guy who wants to improve, who is always listening, and this is always important – that he wants to learn. He deserves to be where he is now and I told him to enjoy every single moment. You never know how football is, maybe he will play, and his career will take another step. Like I said, he’s a great guy and he deserves it.