Thailand sign MOU with Japan, want to learn from Samurai Blue success
The Football Association of Thailand (FAT) is aiming to learn some of the secrets of Japan's success, as the War Elephants turn their attention to a place at a future World Cup.
The FAT formed a strategic partnership with the Japanese Football Association (JFA) by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the day of their World Cup qualifier in Saitama.
While Thailand's hopes of qualifying for Russia 2018 are all but over after a miserable start to their Group B campaign, they are looking to the future by forging and alliance with one of their rivals.
At the JFA headquarters in Tokyo, FAT president Somyot Poompanmoung and his Japanese counterpart Kohzo Tashima shook hands on a deal that both hope will bring closer cooperation between the two East Asian countries.
A statement from the JFA read, "This agreement between the football governing bodies will deepen the mutual relationship and continuous cooperation for further development of football in both Thailand and Japan. I believe that this partnership can help each other to advance to a higher level, not only in technical but also in administrative aspects."
The MOU focuses on cooperation in four key areas -- league operations, national teams, exchange of expertise (including coach education and youth development) and referee development.
Deputy Director of the Thai League Benjamin Tan was in Tokyo for the signing ceremony, and is excited about the development.
"I think there are a few priority areas, for example refereeing, women's football, grassroots and coach education," Tan told ESPN FC.
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"These are the areas of exchange we are looking at and it's not just about Thailand learning from Japan but the Japanese are also learning from us in terms of the players they have coming to play in the Thai League. I think it's a very good relationship that both associations are looking forward to."
When asked if there was one particular are in which Thailand had much to learn from Japan, Tan identified long-term strategy.
"I think that we would like to follow their roadmap," said Tan. "They have a long-term roadmap and it's a very important element in the structure of their association with targets, which include reaching the World Cup and I think that's one of the priorities that we need to look at."
Somyot also referred to the the way in which Japanese football had developed in the last two decades as something to emulate.
"Over the past 20 years, Japan has made amazing progress," said Somyot. "They had to be patient in their development and now they are reaping the rewards.
"They have qualified regularly for the World Cup and they have players at some of the top clubs in the world. This serves as a good example for Thailand to aim for."
As well as the national teams competing on the field, there have been steadily growing links between the domestic leagues. The Thai League has several Japanese players and Thailand's star playmaker Chanathip Songkrasin will be performing in the J League when he joins Consadole Sapporo on loan in July. Another promising Thai talent -- 18-year-old Sittichok Phaso -- is already playing in Japan, having joined Kagoshima United in J3 on loan from Chonburi.
Several Thai League clubs also have partnerships with J League teams, including Bangkok Glass and Cerezo Osaka and Bangkok United and Tokyo FC.
Japan now has MOUs with three Southeast Asian nations, with Singapore and Vietnam already in partnership with the JFA.
