Thai players shake off illness, injury concerns
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Thai players shake off illness, injury concerns

Former boss Witthaya backs team to get result

All Thai players should be fit to face Lebanon in tomorrow's Asian Cup qualifier in Beirut, officials said yesterday.

Thai players take part in a training session in Beirut yesterday.

The Thai squad arrived in Lebanon on Tuesday with a couple of players getting ill or injured including captain Datsakorn Thonglao.

But team doctor Kornkit Chaijenkit said Datsakorn, who had a cold, and Prayad Boonya, Naruebodin Weerawatnodom and Anucha Kitpongsri, who all got injured in Thailand's 1-0 loss to Qatar in a warm-up match in Doha on Sunday, should be fit for the Lebanon match.

"Their illness or injuries are not serious and they should be 100 percent fit for the match," Dr Kornkit said.

Thailand yesterday did not have further injury worries after several injured players had withdrawn from the squad and did not fly with the team to the Middle East.

Star striker Teerasil Dangda.

Meanwhile, former Thailand coach Witthaya Laohakul said the Thais were good enough to beat Lebanon.

Both Thailand and Lebanon need a result after the Thais lost 3-1 to Kuwait and the Lebanese were hammered 5-0 by Iran in their opening Group B games.

Although Thailand are without several key players, Chonburi FC boss Witthaya said he believed they should at least get a draw in Beirut.

"We have never lost to Lebanon," said Witthaya.

"Lebanon also have their own problems. I think Thailand will not lose."

Lebanon will be without three players who have been suspended for match-fixing.

Witthaya said striker Teerasil Dangda could be the key player to determine the outcome.

A vocal critic of the Football Association of Thailand (FAT), Witthaya said FAT bosses, and not national coach Winfried Schaefer, must shoulder responsibility if Thailand lose to Lebanon.

"They brought him to Thailand but have not given him proper support," he said.

The FAT only knew a few days ago that they cannot use Thai-Swiss player Charyl Chappuis for the Lebanon match because, according to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) rules, he has played for Switzerland at junior level.

The problem would not have occurred had the FAT studied the rules, said Witthaya.

"So if Thailand do not get a good result, then the FAT must take responsibility," he said.

Worawi case dismissed

A criminal court yesterday dismissed a South Korean company's lawsuit against FAT president Worawi Makudi.

Dae An 21 claimed in its suit that Worawi agreed to allow the company to oversee the FAT's business matters and TV rights but he failed to honour the promise.

According to Worawi's lawyer Somsak Toraksa, the court said this was a civil issue and not a criminal case.

Worawi said his reputation was affected by the lawsuit and that he would sue the company.

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