Thai Coach Overwhelmed with Emotion After First Southeast Asian Championship Win

Coach Thanathorn Santhanaprasit was overcome with emotion after leading the Thai women's futsal team to their first Southeast Asian title.

Following a nail-biting 5-4 victory over Australia in the ASEAN Women's Futsal Championship 2026 final, Coach Thanathorn Santhanaprasit could not hide his feelings upon guiding the Thai women's futsal team to their first championship.

Sharing his thoughts after the match, the tactician expressed: “Today, I am extremely happy and proud because we have won this championship on home soil and brought the trophy back for all the people of Thailand.”

Assessing the team's performance in the final, Coach Thanathorn stated that his players did not face excessive pressure, but there were moments of lost focus. He candidly acknowledged: “We conceded from three consecutive set-piece situations. This is an area that needs improvement. The team has conceded quite a few goals in this manner, especially from opponents' turn-and-shoot actions. That will be a key focus in our upcoming training.”

On the attacking front, the Thai strategist explained that the team proactively increased pressure after taking the lead. “After going ahead, we tried to move more, apply quick pressure, intercept the ball, and not let the opponent build play comfortably. With one or two more passes in combination, that would have been the perfect moment to deliver the finishing blow,”he analyzed.

Beyond tactical aspects, Coach Thanathorn also praised the team's work ethic throughout the preparation period. He mentioned that the coaching staff and players reviewed mistakes from previous tournaments, including world and regional games, to make adjustments and improvements, particularly in defending set-pieces.

“For the past month, everyone has worked very hard. From the players to the coaching staff, all gave their maximum effort. I truly value everyone's contribution to achieving this championship,”Coach Thanathorn emphasized.

Concluding the press conference, he could not conceal his relief: “Finally, I have been able to unlock the first trophy. In the past, we missed some regrettable opportunities. Today, I have my first title and feel a great sense of relief. My goal has always been to win championships, and I will continue striving for that,”

The title at the 2026 Southeast Asian Championship is not only a significant milestone for Thai women's futsal but also marks a turning point in the coaching career of Coach Thanathorn Santhanaprasit.