Wednesday, 9 October 2024

Kanchanaburi Power

Dragon Pathumwan Kanchanaburi is a professional football club based in the famous tourist military city of Kanchanaburi that was formed in 2017 as Singha Golden Bells Muangkan playing home games at Kanchanaburi Municipality Stadium.

The team entered the Western Region of the Thailand Amateur League in 2018, finishing second in their group, before posting the same position in 2019 after being defeated in the regional final by Kanjanapat in Ayutthaya.

Their performance was enough to win promotion to Thai League 3 Western Region, where under their new title of Singha Golden Bells Kanchanaburi the team finished in fourth place in the 2020-21 campaign with Nattapong Kumnaet finishing as top scorer with Pannarai Pansiri overlooking team affairs after taking over from Nakorn Choosoon.

Brazilian forward Lucas Massaro topped the scoring charts in 2021-22 which saw Kitnarong Haolert replace Pansiri halfway through the season with Kanchanaburi finishing in fourth spot prior to big changes before 2022-23 got underway.

The club title was changed to Dragon Pathumwan Kanchanaburi, leading to much conjecture about the future of the club with Pathumwan being an area of central Bangkok. Coach Pansiri returned for a second spell at the helm before he was replaced a few games in by Yai Ninwong.

The goals of Sergei Tumasyan fired the side to the West region title, going on to finish second in their Champions League playoff group. An aggregate win over Pattaya Dolphins United saw Kanchanaburi promoted to Thai League 2, at which point the club moved across the city to take up residency at Kanchanaburi Province Stadium.

Brazilian head coach Douglas Rodrigues was appointed, lasting until February 2024 when he was replaced by Ranon Intharatul. The side finished thirteenth in the league as Ricardo Pires but had an incredible run in the FA Cup, which led to the final at Ratchaburi against Bangkok United.

Pires put his side ahead before United were awarded a penalty in very controversial circumstances through the intervention of VAR. They would eventually lift the cup after penalties. DP Kanchanburi were left distraught and furious.

For the 2024-25 season, the club changed its name to Kanchanburi Power as Nattapong Todsanit was appointed as head coach before the return of Ranon in October 2024.

Dragon Pathumwan Kanchanaburi FC will play in Thai League 3 Western Region in the 2022-23 season.

My visit

Kanchanaburi Municipality Stadium

Dragon Pathumwan Kanchanaburi 2 Suphanburi 1 (Wednesday 19th October 2022) Thai League Cup Playoff Round (att: 186)

Trying to decide on which Revo League Cup to head to was not made easy by the Thai League website not showing fixtures a few days before the matches were scheduled. I wanted to go somewhere different, so I headed to individual club Facebook pages.

This match looked like just the job with a 3pm kick off and allowing me to catch a bus back to Bangkok after the game to save on the expense of an overnight stay. The club were most helpful in replying to my enquiry as to which stadium would be used, so they got my vote.

 

It worked out well as my cricket pal Troy and his son Matthew were staying in central Bangkok, so I met them for breakfast on the way for the bus. I was in rather better physical shape than I had feared having had my football comeback cancelled the previous teatime.

Though not quite as good as I should have been, but I deserve little sympathy for staying out too late. I got into town ahead of schedule via bus and boat meeting my pals ready for a nice catch up and brekkie at The Sportsman, my first fry up for five months! 

Saying farewell, I caught the BTS to Ari and then a bus the rather convoluted route to Mo Chit minibus station. There was still time to catch the 10am service, an hour earlier than I had anticipated. Years working on the tube had taught me to always travel as early as possible to avoid later snags.

Unfortunately, my seat was on the wheel arch. Luckily the one next to it was vacant, at least until the western suburbs when another bloke needed it. To be honest it wasn’t a great trip, as my new friend stank, some young kids were mucking about, and a German behind didn’t shut up. The perils of a lack of sleep had come home to roost.

The good news was that the driver sped like he was on a promise at the other end and got us to the destination for 12.30. Part of my malaise had been caused by leaving my reading glasses at home. A decent pair with also dealt with the sun were purchased from near the bus station before I got on my skates.

It was time to discover a part of Kanchanaburi my previous visits hadn’t seen. The paper mill museum looked closed with the works derelict, but never mind. The JEATH War Museum was behind it, so I wandered down to pay 50 Baht for a look round.

A stark reminder of the awful conditions the prisoner of war and locals had to endure was planted firmly in my mind as I popped next door for quick call to Wat Chai Chumphon, a pretty temple with a great horse statue.

Song Kwae Maeklong Skywalk on my Google map looked interesting, so I headed down to the banks of the river Kwai. The eating options seemed plentiful overlooking the water, though I opted for the less salubrious place across Songkwai Road.

My pad krapow moo with friend egg and a water cost a princely 60 Baht and was delicious. I was then over the road to pay another 60 Baht to go up in the lift to stretch on the skywalk, where I got a bit of a shock.

I had not factored in that the walk was thick glass and therefore see through. I must admit to being a little wobbly and hanging onto the rail while trying not to look down. I’m glad I did it for the views and experience, but I was also happy to return to solid ground.

A couple of young female Suphanburi fans were kind enough to take me a photo while up there, before I headed across Somdet Phra Sangharaja Yannasangwon Bridge and ended up in an area that was being prepared for some kind of car racing by the looks of it.

Crossing Linchang-Khao Pun Road I arrived at the main entrance to the vast grounds of Kanchanaburi Provincial Stadium. The young pair asked who I was cheering for, so I presume away fans were being charged more. I was happy with the 50 baht fee. The location was stunning with branches of the river behind the main stand on the far side.


The stadium itself was showing signs of age, with a dated stand and a cinder track that was half grown over. A couple of recent covers, one for away fans, had been added on the far side. The dragon livery was on show in plenty of places to make it feel like a real home.

Sitting down with a coke on what was a steaming hot day with a small merciful breeze, I reflected on how local football had changed since my visit the previous April when Muangkhan United just missed out on a place in the League 2 playoffs. 

Kanchanaburi City won promotion from the Thailand Amateur League to gain a place in League 3 alongside the renamed Dragon Pathumwan meaning there were three professional clubs representing the city. Until Muangkhan pulled out with financial issues.

Going into this game DP Kanchanaburi, as the name is abbreviated to, were midtable in the Western Region third tier, with Suphanburi relegated from League 1 the previous season now three points from the top of League 2. They were the obvious favourites in this tie.

 

Either side saw efforts off target in the opening stages before the hosts took the lead on seven minutes when a cracking half volley cross shot from Nattapong Kumnaet flew into the far corner. Keeper Kiattisak Pimyoth didn’t stand a chance.

Up front the Russian former North Bangkok University striker Sergei Tumasyan and partner Taiga Matsunaga were causing havoc with energy and clever play for the home team. It was Matsunaga who doubled the lead on nine minutes after a header from a corner was pushed away by Pimyoth for the Japanese forward to pounce.

A fine one two between the forward partners saw a Matsunaga cross find Kumnaet free in the box. His scuffed volley has fumbled by the keeper who grabbed it at the second attempt before Sirichai Lamphuttha had chance to put the ball away.

The visiting War Elephant halved the deficit at the halfway stage of the first period when a low shot from twenty-five yards by Nethithorn Kaewcharoen evaded home goalie Theerapat Sonjai and nestle in the bottom corner. 

The Dragons responded through Teerapat Chadphuk who went on a strong run which ended in him blasting over, at which point referee Boonsong Prachumrak took the players off for a short timely drinks break.

Tumasyan, whose play Id enjoyed when I saw him in action in the past, then went just wide with an effort from the edge of the box. I had to giggle when Suphanburi forward Prasit Pattanatanawisut was injured in a challenge that saw him roll off the pitch.

 

He was looking to get the offender a yellow card, but the ref told them to get on with the game while the player was treated. The free kick was taken as he wasn’t on the field with Pattanatanawisut up and about and ready to play again within a few seconds.

After the halftime break the game seemed very open. Some excellent play from the all action Matsunaga led to a desperate hoof clear. The visitors started to build momentum with Kanchanaburi defending wholeheartedly. 

Kittipong Wongma shot over as the pressure intensified while frustrations began to come to the surface as a bit of needle crept it, which added to the dynamics as far as a neutral was concerned. Tumasyan knew every trick to crank up his opponents and was using plenty of them.

Kanchanaburi continued to defend well with Matsunaga doing a great job taking the ball with him and causing problems. A deep cross was spilt by Sonjai but he recovered to keep out an effort from Panutach Rungjang.

As the game entered four minutes of additional time, substitute Anuwat Matarat tried a shot from range to try and extend the lead. And that was that. The Dragons deservedly won, against a slightly weakened side from a division above.

After the game I walked back to the bus station and managed to get a decent seat on the 6pm bus and get over an hour’s kip on the way back to Mo Chit. I was hungry and thirsty enough to head to my favourite Minburi establishment. A good end to a grand day out.






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