We Can Afford A Bit Of Sportsmanship On The Field: Thai Opinion

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We can afford a bit of sportsmanship on the field

By Tulsathit Taptim

The social media have called it a "dream match", although "surreal" may sound a bit more accurate to describe the upcoming soccer game between Thailand and Cambodia.

Don't get me wrong, India and Pakistan have been engaged in many sports showdowns, and the Falklands War could not stop Diego Maradona from using his "hand of God" to rub it in the face of the English. I'm all for any kind of diplomacy that may end villagers' suffering and trauma on both sides of our eastern border. In fact, so much so that I'm going to suggest to our VIP players (who may include Thaksin Shinawatra) that they should throw the match for an ultimate diplomatic outcome.

Admit it - although our football may be superior to the Cambodians', that's all we have, and it's the last thing we should exploit. The Cambodians have the upper hand in every other aspect. Our players must go there humble as hell, take a good beating, let Hun Sen score a hat-trick (if he plays) and leave it to the Thai media to run a front-page photo of Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Nam Hong (if he plays) doing a knee-slide celebration. Only then can we start hoping for the best.

The stage has been set, although Thailand's starting XI remains a tightly guarded secret, except for Jatuporn Prompan, who is raring to go. That a package tour for the game is being sold for Bt7,000 per head doesn't mean those who buy it want to see us trash the Cambodians.

To convince those of you who are thinking that it's a disgrace to throw even a friendly soccer match, here are the reasons why in detail:

1. Cambodia has been a reliable sanctuary for Thai politicians in distress. It's as simple as that. Hun Sen escaping the political heat to Thai beaches is ancient history. The political asylum traffic is in absolute reverse now. So, like they say, don't embarrass the host.

2. Defeating Thailand 8-2 may not be enough for the Cambodians to let us jointly manage Preah Vihear Temple as a World Heritage site, but an 8-2 scoreline would be a clear message that we no longer want to jointly manage Preah Vihear that much anyway. This may bode well for many things else. For one, border villagers won't have to dive into bunkers every time some naughty kids light a firework.

3. Cambodia may not want to withdraw its Preah Vihear petition from the International Court of Justice too soon, but if we show readiness to forget our ego on matters as trivial as a friendly soccer game, Phnom Penh might just see in it our readiness to yield on bigger affairs.

4. Latest we checked, the two Thai activists jailed in Cambodia as a result of the border conflict will most likely be freed before or just after the game. You can't have a better feelgood end to this episode - amateur red-shirt footballers helping secure the release of yellow shirt activists through the self-inflicted humiliation of an 8-2 defeat.

5. We still have our national team gunning for the World Cup finals in Brazil in 2014 to cheer for. Let's share with the Cambodians some football pride.

6. If the two countries' border conflict was a soccer game, we have scored plenty of own goals anyway. It's a one-sided match in which Thai players beat one another up and help the other side walk the ball into the Thai net.

7. Thaksin's rising status as a world economic lecturer could be greatly boosted if his next topic read something like, "How to lose an insignificant soccer game and clinch a mega oil deal."

8. We can tell the World Heritage Committee, "Our stand on Preah Vihear is not about misguided national dignity as alleged. If dignity is our main concern, how can you explain the score?"

9. We can tell the International Court of Justice, "The Cambodians accuse us of refusing to lose. If face is our main concern, how can you explain the score?" And we can also tell the Asean border observers, "Look who's on a shooting spree."

10. If the Democrats come back to power some day, surely something can be worked out to nullify the defeat or delete it from national history.

11. Cambodia's big win could inspire a Premier League boom in that country, which would contribute massively to regional football.

12. Last but not least, if we are going to lose anything without sending the yellow shirts berserk, this must be it.

-- The Nation 2011-09-15

[Siripon]

The referee better not give any yellow cards to the Thai players, only red will do.

Isn't it a coincidence that there's been no shelling of the border area by Cambodia since the new Thai government came to power?

[mindabenda]

I got pushed over, expectorated upon and then RED carded.

[OzMick]

The referee better not give any yellow cards to the Thai players, only red will do.

Isn't it a coincidence that there's been no shelling of the border area by Cambodia since the new Thai government came to power?

no, it's not a coincidence.

[OzMick]

Point 7/ has resonance - it's all about Thaksin clinching a mega oil deal.