Updates

Raj travel to Prachinburi, near the Cambodian border on Sunday. For the second time in a week, work commitments will stop me attending the game. However, I will attend the game between Nonthaburi and Rangsit on Saturday.

Meanwhile, here is a picture of some sneaky looking white guy making a run for it at the game between Raj and Narataiwat last week.....

FA Cup draw

Raj have been drawn at home to Bangkok Sananrak in the second round (before the first round proper).

Tie to be played May 12th.


Nonthaburi have not entered the contest. Indeed, most smaller clubs don't, because, unlike the UK, there is no financial reward for winning any games before the big rounds.

Raj - Narathiwat snaps

Photos here

Raj 2 Narataiwat 0

Photo credit: thaileagueonline.com

Not a great game but a crucial result. Raj back up to third.

Next up - Narathiwat

Image credit: www.narathiwatfc.net 

Narathiwat FC hail from Narathiwat in the deep south of Thailand and play their home games at Narathiwat Central Satdium. 
The club joined Rajpracha in the D2 promotion play offs last season and managed to scrape the final spot by drawing with Samut Prakan in the final game.

Division one has not been kind to them so far and the club are one place off the bottom.


The province:
The province has a high Muslim population (hence the Islamic symbol in the club badge)  and has been hurt badly by the seperatist terrorism in the region. However, it is considered friendly and cultural. The people of Thailand's deep south have a different dialect and traditional diet to the rest of the nation.

Only the hardcore away fans will attend this game as it will entail a round trip of over two thousand kilometers!

Who to watch:
Yen Emile was not selected for Raj's last game and teh team suffered for it. He may well return for this game but his fiery temper has already been on display this season.

I call:
Raj need to bounce back from the disappointment of drawing at home to PTT. Although Sunday's game (0-0 away to Sriracha) was a good result, we need a win to push back up the table. I call 2-1

Sriracha 0 Raj 0

Actually a very good result, away to the team narrowly relegated from the Prem last season, and the favourites to go straight back up.

I was unable to attend this game but I'll be at the next home game on Wednesday.

Raj v PTT - Images

An excellent set of snaps can be seen here.

Raj 3 PTT 3 - Highlights

First choice goalie Yen Emile was not in this game as Raj used their three man quota of foreign players on the outfield.This may explain the soft defensive performance. Raj are in black for this game. The crowd was low as this game was played the day after the political bloodshed in Bangkok.

New signing

Photo credit: Tak N Sync at football.rajpracha.com

It seems Wisarut Pannasri has signed for Raj from Muangthong United. I'm surprised the champs let him go and it's great news for Raj.

See the final goal in this clip for a glimpse of Wisarut's class:

Raj 3 PTT 3

Poor result at home to the division's bottom club. Details to follow.

Nonthaburi 3 Nakhon Sawan 1
The win puts Eka six points clear again and heaps the pressure on North Bangkok

Game on...we hope!

While it seems that some games will be cancelled due to political tensions in Thailand, it looks like D1 and D2 will, on the whole, be OK.

Game on Raja and Nonthaburi then.
http://www.thaileagueonline.com/site/news.php?id_news=844

Air Force V Raj - Photos

From Raj fans here.

From AFU fans here with some nice stadium shots and here with photos from the amazing final five minutes in which AFU went down to nine men then scored the winning goal.

Rajpracha squad

The list has been updated here.

Nonthaburi FC Squad

Note: This list is now out of date. Some players remain but some have left. I will post an updated list soon.

Pictures and profiles of the players can be seen on the official site

Chairman: Wichai Sangprapai
Coach: Sunti Song-Tae (สันติ ทรงเต๊ะ)

Squad:
1) Marak Matadam
2) Anuchit Gratama
3) Maytee Sonjit
4) Chotawee Promrat
5) Surasak Ateim
6) Venus Ponsa
7) Noppadom Wonjan
8) Sarawut Thasong
9) Pramot Butarat
10) Arthit Praagune
11) Pongsak Kongaew
12) Youngyuth Kongaew
13) EKA Nonthaburi
14) Nittipong Limsuan
15) Bouagba Carrion
16) Gidja Choosing
17) Sathit Sriuthai
18) Pittawat Jumnongchop
19) Nikom Somwang
20) Thanom Sangjangda
21) Thait Poorat
22) Kasipat Boonyakornshindetch
23) Camara Fode
24) Sommai Kaubpimai
25) Thanoon Klangkorn
26) Jakkapong Rayanamarch
27) Jenwit Boonsuwan
28) Prasop 
29) Kim Young Sung

Kaesestart 1 Nonthaburi 2

 Photo credit: Sugar t_t at nonthaburifc.com

 

Eka win again to go top of Div 2 Bangkok, though North Bangkok have two games in hand. It's always better to have the points than the games in hand, though.

A few action shots amid the usual crowd photos here.

Nonthaburi have also developed their website. It now features news articles, player profiles, etc.

Air Force United 2 Rajpracha 1

Photo credit: http://www.siamsport.co.th/

Rajpracha took an early lead and Air Force were reduced to ten men but it was not enough for Raj to hold on.


Air Force equalised before half time and although the second half was very even, it appeared to be heading towards a one-one draw. With about ten minutes left, Air Force went down to nine men when another player was dismissed for his second bookable offence. Yet on the ninetieth minute, Air Force scored. Raj applied pressure for the three minutes of injury time but could not get through.

A decent game with some flashes of good football from both sides and despite the number of yellow cards, this was not a dirty game and the ref did not give any more free kicks than he had to. Raj took a good crowd of about one hundred or more noisy fans and the home crowd were welcoming. An enjoyable day out at Don Muang for everyone.

Next up - Air Force United (away)

Image credit: www.airforceunited.com 

Raj travel to AFU on Sunday for a 1730 kick off.


I normally only preview home games that I will attend - as opposed to this away game that I hope to attend - but I want to give special mention to AFU for two reasons. One, their fans are some of the friendliest in Thai football, which is saying something. Secondly, their website is an example to all other teams. It's free of flash and other junk that slows down your browser and bloats the bill of the web designer, and focuses on giving you the actual information that you need such as player profiles, ticket details, a stadium map and a web board. I wish that teams like Osotspa would take a look at the AFU website.


Air Force United play near Don Muang Airport, which is almost as close to my home as the Thunderdome, so like many Raj fans, I hope to be hopping on the bus to attend this one. It's second against third, too.