Pattaya is joining the Thailand Futsal League 2014 with a new team called Pattaya Arena.
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome and Education Ministry secretary Chanyuth Hengtrakul officially announced the start of the team’s 2014 campaign Feb. 18 at the Eastern National Indoor Stadium with Mini Siam owner Nipitchon Ketpongpat, who is president of the new club.
While the Pattaya Arena Futsal Club was founded in 2013, Pattaya fielded a non-league team for the previous six years, placing second in the CAT Regional Futsal Tournament 2011-2012 and reaching the final 16 teams in the Umay Plus FA Cup. Based on those achievements, the Thailand Futsal League invited Pattaya to field a team for league play.
Nipitchon Ketpongpat, president of Pattaya Arena Futsal Club (left) presents a Pattaya Arena jersey to mayor Ittipol Kunplome at the press conference to launch the new Futsal team, held Tuesday, Feb. 18 at the Indoor stadium in Soi Chaiyapruek 2.
“To prepare the team to compete in the Thailand Futsal League, we chose talented coaches Pattaya Piemkhum and Prasert Innui because they have experience with national players,” Nipitchon said. “We hope to finish in the first 7 positions in the first leg and upon completion of the season, we hope to be in the top five of the 16 teams.”
“The introduction of the futsal club is for fans to know that we are competing in the Thailand Futsal League 2014,” mayor Itthiphol added. “This will help push and develop Pattaya youths as professional futsal players competing in national programs, which will consequently develop the city’s economy and the stadium will be used to host home games.”
Called the Dolphins, the futsai club is sponsored by many organizations, the mayor said.
“It started small and continued to develop to the national level and is another result of the hard work by Pattaya youths. We hope that Pattaya Arena will finish in the No. 1 position and at the top of the table. I encourage Pattaya citizens to continue supporting our team,” Itthiphol said.
For more information, visit PattayaArenaFS.com.
