Pattaya United held a pre-season press conference on Sunday, March 4 at Central Beach shopping mall to announce their aims for the new league campaign and also unveil two new signings to the press and public.
Kim Do Yon from South Korean outfit Daechon Citizen FC and former Thailand U 19 player Abhisit Khumwang have been added to the roster this year as the club prepares to launch a concerted effort at capturing the league title. Highly rated 20 year old Abhisit has been signed on a season long loan from Premiership rivals BEC Tero.
The Pattaya United playing squad pose for a team photo at Central Beach Pattaya shopping mall, Sunday, March 4.
“For the 2012 season, many teams participating in the league have improved substantially and as the head coach I have done my best,” said team boss Chalermwut Sangapol. “It is every coach’s dream to win a championship and the potential and management of the team here at Pattaya United makes winning the league a high possibility,” he added.
Sangapol was presented with an award at the press conference after he was voted the Siam Golden Ball ‘Manager of the Season’ for guiding United to a fourth placed finish after the club were in relegation territory when he took over in 2011.
Also in the awards was club skipper Niweat Siriwong who won the ‘Outstanding Defender’ and ‘Most Valuable Player’ prizes.
Thara Prikum, CEO of team sponsors Grandsport Group (left) presents a new 2012 season away team jersey to Pattaya Mayor and club director Itthiphol Kunplome.
Not to be left out, the remainder of the first team squad were included in the presentation of a cheque for 5 million baht from sponsors Sophon Cable as a reward to the playing staff for their performance in the second half of last season.
Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome, a senior club advisor, said that United had received substantial backing for the new season to the tune of 70 million baht from club sponsors who include True Visions, Bangkok Hospital Pattaya, Grand Sport Group, Thai Beverage Co., Thai Namthip Co., Hutchinson Laemchabang and American International Assurance (AIA).
Suwanthep Malhotra (right) Vice MD of media sponsors the Pattaya Mail Publishing Co. Ltd., presents a gesture of support for the team to Mayor Itthiphol, Club Manager Sombut Pinyasiri, and Team Coach ‘Nui’ Chalermyuth Sangapol.
The club also used the opportunity of the press conference to launch their new strip for the upcoming season, with the smartly designed football jerseys proving to be very popular with supporters who snapped them up in their dozens at the on-site sales booths.
Pattaya United get the new Premier League season underway this coming Saturday, March 17, with a home game against Samut Songkhram FC at the Nongprue Stadium in Pattaya. Kick-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. and as usual, the Pattaya Mail will be following both the ‘Dolphins’ and all our other local team’s fortunes as the season progresses.
