Final foray: Thais out to end epic drought

Thailand’s men’s football team face the formidable challenge of overcoming arch-rivals Vietnam in tonight's SEA Games final, as they bid to deliver the Kingdom's first gold medal in the biennial tournament since 2017.

- TOR CHITTINAND

The clash at Bangkok's Rajamangala Stadium is not only a test of skill and nerve but also a chance to end an eight-year wait for glory.

Football has long been the heartbeat of the SEA Games in Thailand. The men’s team have amassed 16 gold medals — more than any other nation — yet recent campaigns have fallen short, leaving supporters yearning for a return to the summit of Southeast Asian football.

On the eve of the final, Thailand head coach Thawatchai Damrong-ongtrakul told a pre-match press conference that reaching the final was already an achievement but insisted the team’s ambitions extended further.

“We have reached our target of making the final, but the next step is to become champions of the SEA Games,” he said.

“It is fitting that we face Vietnam, a team that has improved greatly and now represents one of the strongest sides in Asean football. If we want to be the best, we must beat the best.”

The Thai coach emphasised the strength of his own squad, pointing to the return of several players from injury and the unity within the camp.