Thailand claims not enough Thai food, drinks for players at hotel

Photo from FA Thailand Facebook account

(Editor’s Note: We erroneously reported that the practice field that was in the photos was at the Biñan Football Stadium when in fact it was the UP Diliman Football Field, which was still under construction. We apologize for the mistake.)

MANILA, Philippines—Thailand’s football contingent has been having some trouble the moment it arrived in the country on Saturday for the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

Apart from dealing with accommodation issues, the Thais also encountered problems with their food and drinks so much so that their top sports official had to intervene.

According to a Facebook post from FA Thailand, president Somyot Poompanmoung had been informed of the problem his players encountered.

The Thai national team was given the same food items for every meal at Century Park Hotel and that the players are given only four bottles of drinking water a day.

“The problem is there’s not enough Thai food in the menu for the athletes, coaches, and staff every meal,” the post wrote. “There should also be extra food daily until the end of the SEA Games.”

Poompanmoung, who’s the former Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, has ordered the competition management to provide enough sustenance for his country’s national athletes.

The UP Diliman Football Stadium in Quezon City, whose grandstand is still undergoing renovation, also caught the attention of the Thais who just held their first practice a day before plunging into action.

“Honestly, it’s bad,” the Facebook post on SMM Thaileague online wrote.

Thailand opens its campaign against Indonesia at the start of the football competition on Tuesday at Rizal Memorial Stadium.