Thailand has golden dreams for the 27th Southeast Asian Games opening this month in Myanmar.
No fewer than 100 to 130 gold medals are being targeted to win acclaim for the kingdom at the biannual event which pits athletes from 11 nations in a variety of international and regional competitions.
Although Thailand no longer dominate football and have lost out in recent regional competitions, the heat is on for the men’s national football team to win the gold. From 1993 to 2007, Thailand took the gold at eight consecutive SEA Games.
“Our [men’s] football team was eliminated in the first round in the previous two SEA Games and fans have lost their faith in the team,” said Worawi Makudi, president of Thailand’s football association.
He said Thailand hopes to collect gold medals in both men’s and women’s football and futsal.
“We have to win back the gold medal to regain our fans’ faith,” he added.
At the games Thailand will be in Group B along with Myanmar, Indonesia, Cambodia and Timor Leste.
Defending champions Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Laos, the Philippines and Brunei comprise Group A.
Opening ceremonies begin Dec. 11 and the games end Dec. 22, but demonstration matches have already begun, Bangkok Post reported.
