Singapore's national football team has been assured by Thailand authorities that there will be strict security for tomorrow night's crucial second leg of the ASEAN Football Championship at Supachalasai Stadium in Bangkok. Tension is high following the controversy which erupted in the first leg when Singapore won 2-1 following a penalty awarded against Thailand by Malaysian referee C. Ravichandran. According to Tor Chittinand in the Bangkok Post, a top-level meeting on the security situation was held at the Football Association of Thailand headquarters yesterday between Thai officials, members of the ASEAN Football Federation and the Singapore Ambassador, Peter Chang. FAT President Vijitr Getkaew said there would be more than 600 policeman at the event including 100 Tourist Police.
Thailand's coach, Chanvit Phalajivin said his team has "no choice but to go all out on attack ... 'It is also important our players remain calm. If we can control our tempers we will win.'' The Thai team has an added incentive in that the Thai Beverage Marketing Company Limited, producers of Beer Chang, has promised a bonus of two million baht for the Thai team if they win the title.
Singapore's players appeared at ease at training. Striker Noh Alam Shah, who was involved in the penalty incident on Wednesday, said he was not worried. ''We are not afraid at all and I think there will not be any problem with the Thai people, '' he said. ''The Thai players are our friends and I'm sure the referee won't be biased.'' Singapore's coach, Radojko Avramovic said he was confident his team would win the title. ''We are not under pressure and will play our normal game. We are not concerned about the first leg, that's over. We have to do well in the second match,'' he said.
Thailand's coach, Chanvit Phalajivin said his team has "no choice but to go all out on attack ... 'It is also important our players remain calm. If we can control our tempers we will win.'' The Thai team has an added incentive in that the Thai Beverage Marketing Company Limited, producers of Beer Chang, has promised a bonus of two million baht for the Thai team if they win the title.
Singapore's players appeared at ease at training. Striker Noh Alam Shah, who was involved in the penalty incident on Wednesday, said he was not worried. ''We are not afraid at all and I think there will not be any problem with the Thai people, '' he said. ''The Thai players are our friends and I'm sure the referee won't be biased.'' Singapore's coach, Radojko Avramovic said he was confident his team would win the title. ''We are not under pressure and will play our normal game. We are not concerned about the first leg, that's over. We have to do well in the second match,'' he said.