Amateur football in Thailand

About 10 years ago, a man unknown to me walked onto our property. My wife didn't know him either. But he did know us and he had an envelope with him with an invitation to a party, because his son was entering the monastery. None of that is important for this story, but what is important is that the man was dressed in football clothes. Hmmm, apparently football was played in Thailand after all, and by elderly men.

Through my wife I asked if I could also participate because I had been doing running training for half a year and I wanted something more. He would throw it into the group. The next day I already heard that I could come by for a training and then they would look. Fortunately, that training was within cycling distance - then on a football field of a nearby university - and at the end of the training they said that from now on I could also participate in the competitions. They were apparently impressed by my football skills or – and that is of course much more likely – they wanted to have a farang in the team. I had to take two passport photos with me to the next game and a copy of my passport and my yellow book.

Of course, I was not yet eligible to play that next match, but I did receive a home and away kit. Of course I had to buy football boots myself. When I asked what I had to pay, I was told that it was not necessary. Now we did have advertising for the Chang beer brand on our shirts, but I was still surprised that Chang was so generous to an insignificant team. Only later did I learn that Chang was not a sponsor at all, but that most of the money was raised by the team's founder plus a few players acting as sponsors. When I heard that, I of course also made a contribution. It does mean that there is no association, just a team.

Our team participates in the Ubon Champions League in the highest (of the three) class of 40-plus football players. There has also been a competition for people over 50 for two years now. In our class, unlimited substitutions are allowed, but during the match there must be four field players of 40 plus, three of 44 plus and three of 47 plus. The goalkeeper must of course also be older than forty years old.

What does the organization of the Ubon Champions League do? They provide good pitches (all matches are held at the Thung Burapha sports complex, just outside the city of Ubon), six-metre-high nets around the pitches, well-trained referees, linesmen and fourth officials, covered seating for the reserve players, stands for the spectators, three footballs per match, two ball girls, a photographer, a waiting ambulance with three brothers/sisters, accident insurance for the players and also for the awards ceremony at the end of the season. And of course for the competition format.

Our team provides cold drinking water during training and matches, reservations of the fields for training and communication between players via line. And for registering the players with the organization, for two footballs during the training sessions, and a new football outfit every season.

As a player you do not pay any contributions and therefore there are no rights. This can be seen from the following example: Last season we had a new goalkeeper and he was given the shirt number 1. He was indeed a goalkeeper for the first three games of that season, but because he let quite a lot of balls through, he was replaced in the following game by our reserve goalkeeper. That season he only played twice, once to replace our injured reserve goalkeeper for fifteen minutes and once to fill in as an outfield player for fifteen minutes.

In the new season he became a reserve goalkeeper and the old reserve goalkeeper was given jersey number 1. However, after a few games he had to come in because the new number 1 was injured. In that match he first let a holdable ball pass, then he shot a kick-out over the sideline and then he didn't lift a finger at a ball that was probably not holdable anyway, so that we were 2-0 behind. Then an intervention was made: he had to go to the side and a field player stood in the goal. But the worst part was that it happened a minute before the end of the first half. So it was clearly a punitive measure. He showed up again the next match, but was left out because the field player was back in goal. So it's clear that this competition is about points and not just about participation.

And what about me? I'm getting older and the team isn't. The average age of the players continues to fluctuate around 48 years. I've been there for 20 years now. Moreover, the quality of the team has also increased in recent years, partly because we have attracted players from neighboring provinces. A few years ago it could sometimes happen that a player from the opposing team who had broken through was not chased by one of our players, but that the team left it to our goalkeeper to save what could still be saved. You don't see that anymore. Also clearly overweight players that we used to have have all been released. Over the years I have also gotten fewer and fewer playing minutes and am now actually more of a supporter than a player. But it's just fun to be part of a team. Still, I will soon see if I can find accommodation with a team that plays in the competition for people over 50. I'm slowly getting around to that.

How do the matches actually go? Preceded by the referee, the two touch judges, the fourth official and accompanied by a hymn, the two teams enter the field and line up to greet the spectators. Then the two teams greet each other with a wai after which the players cheer each other up by standing in a circle, water is poured on the hands of the players and a yell is shouted before the match starts. At the end of the game, the two teams line up again with the race management in their midst and say goodbye to the (not too numerous) audience with a slight bow.

At the start of this season, our team had 26 players, of which an average of 24 showed up, so there were 13 substitutes. The best players are drafted, but substitutions are also made sparingly. This must be reported to the fourth official, who will also announce this to the public via a sign. The extra time is also kept by the fourth official and announced via a board. The real Champions League has clearly been carefully looked at.

Although I will certainly not complain about the facilities, there are some downsides such as the absence of a club building and therefore also changing facilities, although there are public toilets. And of course there is no canteen. Food and drinks are for sale on the sports field, but alcohol is not. Our team usually brings a box of beer that is consumed at the edge of the field, but that's about it. So no drinking parties like in the Netherlands.

Our team's training sessions do not amount to much and are not attended very faithfully. We don't have a trainer so we basically do whatever and if there are enough players (a field is usually reserved by two or three teams) a game is eventually played. Some teams such as the Chevrolet team have their own stadium with a grandstand for 200 spectators and a weight room. The police team will also have extra facilities and its own trainer. Teams with money reportedly even buy away good players. However, I have not been contacted yet.

At the moment I am the only farang walking around the fields. A few years ago there was a Finn with a somewhat quirky character. I never saw him play. He gave up after two years.

From time to time we also participate in tournaments and friendly matches. If you look closely, there are football fields everywhere. Such tournaments are sometimes held when there is a festive occasion and that also means a large audience. And the audience means applause to me, for example when I am substituted. Other players who are substituted do not receive that honor. As a footballing farang in the countryside, you often have an advantage.

Evil tongues claim that at my age I only get playing minutes because I am a co-sponsor of the team. Of course, absolutely none of that is true. Well, maybe it does have some influence…

About this blogger

Hans Pronk

Born in 1950, married in Thailand in 1977, emigrated in 2011. Two wonderful children and 5 lovely grandchildren. We now live together in Isaan with the first neighbours at about 250 m. We have not even left the province of Ubon for 5 years. Going out: eating out a few times a month. Boring? Isolated? No. The photo shows how I live here: outside, surrounded by nature, dressed lightly, to my liking and occasionally visiting, such as from great-grandchild Nalin. “Behind”, because her mother calls us grandma and grandpa. Hobby: searching for reliable news sources.

Read the latest articles here

Older posts from this blogger

• Living in ThailandNovember 1 2024You experience everything in Thailand (165)
• Living in ThailandOctober 17, 2024You experience everything in Thailand (155)
• Living in Thailand28 September 2024You experience everything in Thailand (147)
• BackgroundMarch 23 2024Is exercising in a tropical climate responsible in your old age?