Thai League Right Move, Says Stewart

Kanchanaburi eyeing top 3, his teammates include ex-EPL players Townsend, Kamara

- Deepanraj Ganesan

In the last decade, Singapore defender Ryhan Stewart - like fans all around the world - watched in awe at some of winger Andros Townsend's stunning goals in the English Premier League.

It includes a sublime 30-metre volley against Manchester City in the 2018-19 season that clinched a 3-2 win for Crystal Palace.

In the 2025-26 Thai League 1 season, which kicked off on Aug 15, Stewart will get a close-up view of the Englishman's prowess down the flank, with the pair now teammates at newly promoted Kanchanaburi Power.

Fullback Stewart could be paired on the right flank with Townsend, who has spent much of his career operating on the wing.

Stewart is one of eight players flying the Singapore flag across the 16 top-flight clubs in Thailand.

This is the highest number of Singaporeans plying their trade in Thai League 1, which does not have a limit on the number of Asean players that each club can register.

The other seven are the Fandi brothers - Irfan (Port FC), Ikhsan (Ratchaburi) and Ilhan (Buriram) - Jordan Emaviwe (BG Pathum United), M. Anumanthan (Kanchanaburi), Bill Mamadou (Nakhon Ratchasima) and Kyoga Nakamura (Bangkok United). Last season, there were six.

Stewart, who joined Kanchanaburi in June after leaving Lithuanian top-flight side FK Riteriai, has already been enthralled by Townsend in training since the 34-year-old ex-Tottenham Hotspur, Palace and Everton winger joined the club at the start of August.