Sunday, November 30, 2008
Beach time for the AFF Cup
Suzuki Cup meet will be held in Phuket from December 6, says Worawi
TOR CHITTINAND
Thailand has moved the Suzuki Cup or the Asean championship from Bangkok to Phuket province to avoid the political crisis in the capital.
Emergency rule is now in place at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports which have been occupied by thousands of anti-government protesters from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD).
"There's too much trouble in Bangkok, so we've decided to switch the venue," Worawi Makudi, president of the Football Association of Thailand (FAT), said yesterday.
He said officials from the Asean Football Federation (AFF) had inspected Phuket's Surakul stadium and was pleased with the venue.
The other venue, which will host only one game, will be the main stadium in nearby Phangnga province.
"All parties have agreed, this is the best solution to the problem and Phuket is a very suitable alternative. Every team in the group can fly to Phuket directly," Worawi said.
He said this would show to the world that Thailand had problems only in the capital and other places were still safe to visit.
Thailand is co-hosting the fiercely-contested biennial tournament, beginning on December 5, with Indonesia.
Phuket will now host Group B, comprising Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Malaysia, while Indonesia, Cambodia, Burma and holders Singapore will contest Group A in Jakarta.
The Phuket event will begin on December 6.
TOR CHITTINAND
Thailand has moved the Suzuki Cup or the Asean championship from Bangkok to Phuket province to avoid the political crisis in the capital.
Emergency rule is now in place at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports which have been occupied by thousands of anti-government protesters from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD).
"There's too much trouble in Bangkok, so we've decided to switch the venue," Worawi Makudi, president of the Football Association of Thailand (FAT), said yesterday.
He said officials from the Asean Football Federation (AFF) had inspected Phuket's Surakul stadium and was pleased with the venue.
The other venue, which will host only one game, will be the main stadium in nearby Phangnga province.
"All parties have agreed, this is the best solution to the problem and Phuket is a very suitable alternative. Every team in the group can fly to Phuket directly," Worawi said.
He said this would show to the world that Thailand had problems only in the capital and other places were still safe to visit.
Thailand is co-hosting the fiercely-contested biennial tournament, beginning on December 5, with Indonesia.
Phuket will now host Group B, comprising Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Malaysia, while Indonesia, Cambodia, Burma and holders Singapore will contest Group A in Jakarta.
The Phuket event will begin on December 6.
# posted by Me @ 4:33 AM 
