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Sports / News
Asian Cup fails to woo soccer-crazy Thais
(Reuters)
Updated: 2007-07-12 08:38
BANGKOK, July 11 - The Asian Cup is failing to make an impression on
soccer-mad Thailand, where fair-weather fans are steering clear of
stadiums and watching the tournament on television.
Even Australia's "Socceroos" are struggling to pull the crowds, with
daily monsoon rains and traffic snarl-ups leaving Bangkok's Rajamangala
stadium half-empty.
"I love football, I want to see the Thai team win, but it's raining so
much," said Wandee Chairod, a Bangkok taxi driver.
"We have to buy tickets and it's difficult to get to the stadium. We can
watch it on TV instead."
Heavy rain two hours before Saturday's opening game between Thailand and
Iraq flooded large parts of Bangkok, causing mayhem on the city's
notoriously clogged roads and prompting thousands of supporters to shun
the match.
The following day, only 5,000 people turned up to watch Australia's 1-1
draw with Oman, in the Socceroos' first tournament since their impressive
2006 World Cup run in Germany.
The other host countries, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia, have had no
trouble filling their stadiums, and have drawn crowds of between 40,000
and 60,000 people.
The Thai team insist, however, that they have the support of the fans.
"I hope they will come out to see us, but we have early kickoffs, bad
traffic and terrible weather," Thai coach Charnwit Polcheewin told
Reuters.
"Even if they aren't at the stadium, we know there will be 60 million
people cheering for us on TV."
Poor crowds are the latest setback for Thailand, which last year nearly
lost the right to co-host the tournament after missing deadlines to
upgrade its stadiums.
Thais are huge followers of English soccer and millions of dollars are
won and lost through rampant illegal betting on Premier League matches.
NATIONAL PRIDE
When national pride is at stake, the South East Asian country has no
problems selling tickets.
Tournament finals against regional rivals Vietnam and Singapore this year
drew sellout crowds of drum-beating fans carrying flags and wearing royal
colours.
But Thailand's lukewarm response to hosting Asia's premier soccer
tournament has raised questions about its love of soccer.
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