Rising star Supa confident heading into Suzuki Cup

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Rising star Supa confident heading into Suzuki Cup

By Lerpong Amsa-ngiam 
The Nation

 

Supachai Jaided during a training session.

 

Promising striker Supachai Jaided believes he can cope with the fans’ rising expectations in the AFF Suzuki Cup, which starts next week.

 

The 19-year-old from Pattani province is one of the youngsters making their debuts in the tournament, having been called up for the senior team for the first time after impressing in two friendlies, against Hong Kong and Trinidad and Tobago last month.

 

 The Buriram United forward first came to prominence when he scored a goal in each of the Asian Games under-23 matches against Qatar and Bangladesh.

 

Hope is therefore high that he can carry his good form into the Suzuki Cup from November 8 to December 15.

 

 “The pressure from fans is inevitable every time you go into a game,” said Supachai, who is in a 27-man squad that will be whittled down to 23 before the opening match with Timor Leste at the Rajamangala National Stadium on November 9. “So it comes down to how well you can handle it. Personally, I have no problem with it and I will try to live up to expectations through my performance on the pitch. 

 

“I will give my all to make the cut. I have adjusted well to [being with] the senior players and have learned a lot from them and the coaching team. Spending a long time in the training camp together like this makes us really ready for the competition.” 

 

Thailand have won five out of the last 10 Suzuki Cups and go into this year’s event seeking a hat-trick of triumphs. 

 

Supachai reckons that will be a tough but doesn’t believe it’s mission impossible.

 

“Anything can happen in football but if we work hard and follow the coach’s game plan, I think we are good enough to win again,” he said.

 

 Thailand have a warm-up game with Chonburi FC on Saturday but it won’t be open to the media or fans.

 

 

Coach Milovan Rajevac said it would be their only game time before Friday’s opening Suzuki fixture and how the players perform will help him decide who should make the final 23-man cut.

 

 “I want to test the physical condition of the players and how well they adjust in real competition,” he said. “ The way they play will play a role in the selection.”

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/sports/30357763

 

 

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