THAIS TO STAY IN WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

Royal Arion locals benefit from imports by learning from their experience, expertise

- David Lee

Women's league football in Singapore will retain its tom yam flavour next season, as Royal Arion president Simon Tan committed to more collaborations to bring in quality Thai players, after his side won the Women's National League (WNL) title in a dramatic play-off final on Oct 15.

After sweeping through the single round-robin format of the second-tier, eight-team competition with a perfect seven wins, 49 goals scored and none conceded, and then beating Ayer Rajah Gryphons 10-0 in the play-off semi-finals, they were made to work for the championship.

In front of a boisterous 500strong crowd at Woodlands Stadium, a significant turnout for women's league football here, Royal Arion trailed in the final to a seventh-minute goal by Mattar Sailors' Raeka Ee.

However, a three-minute blitz turned things around as Serena Bok equalised before Thai international Orapin Waenngoen grabbed the winner and the $8,000 winners' cheque for her team with her 35th goal of the season.

Tan, who is also the president of top-tier Women's Premier League (WPL) side Still Aerion, hailed the impact of the World Cup players former Thailand captain Sunisa Srangthaisong, Pikul Khueanpet, 

Waraporn Boonsing and Orapin he recruited from Thai club BGCCollege of Asian Scholars.