Maraleina

Maraleina FC is a professional football club with a history of having different names and playing in several locations.  Its origins can be traced back to 2006 when they were based in Sisaket and were named Department of Science Service FC.

The club relocated to the capital and changed their title, playing in the FS (Friendly Soccer) League from 2009, of which they were crowned champions in 2010-11. The club became Kanjanapat FC is a professional football club, representing the Kanjanapat Group, who trade in the air conditioning industry.

Based at the Stadium of Bangkok University Rangsit Campus, Kanjanapat competed in the Thailand Amateur League in 2019. The team progressed to the Western Region final where they defeated Singha Rakhang Thong Muang Kan at Ayutthaya in the final 

The victory secured promotion to the extended Thai League 3 West for the 2020-21 campaign, in which they ended in eleventh. Sylla Sekou Nana had topped the scoring list as the team performed at Stadium of Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi, under head coach Ekkapong Midphol.

He was replaced by Uthai Ngamcharoen and then Tewet Kamolsin in a truncated season owing to the Covid-19 pandemic. This was prior to the side finishing eighth in 2021-22 with the goals being shared by Addison Alves and Alexis Vaiani after a move to North Bangkok University Stadium. Yossagorn Silaket led the side for owner and manager Winai Kanjanapat.

Nigerian Adebayo Gbadebo was appointed as head coach for the 2022-23 campaign following another relocation, this time to Valaya Alongkorn Rajabhat University Stadium, north of Rangsit. The team ended in tenth spot, before it was all change once again.

There had been rumours circulating around the local football scene that Kanjanapat may be tempted to sell their license. Maraleina had a couple of academies and wanted to have an adult pro side. They took over from Kanjanapat as Huahin Maraleina, to relocate to the seaside city.

However, they stayed out north of Rangsit for the 2023-24 season, finishing seventh as Chitsanuphong Phimpsang occasionally put away the goals with experienced coach Rene Desaeyere leading the side. 

An online image of Petchaburi Rajabhat Stadium

For the 2024-25 campaign, Marlaleina appeared to drop Huahin from their title but relocated halfway there when they moved into Phetchaburi Rajabhat University Stadium with Paisan Chanpraserd taking over as coach. 

Maraleina FC will play in Thai League 3 West in the 2024-25 season.

My visit

Kanjanapat 0 Saraburi United 2 (Sunday 6^th November 2022) Thai League 3 West (att: 162) 

I had pondered the possibility of trying to get to see Kanjanapat for some time, I had been to the Kanjanapat Arena, used by Bangkok Premier League club Chibuna FC previously, but it appeared not up to scratch for professional football.

Now I had a perfect opportunity with my friends from Germany, Thorsten, and Maren across in Thailand on holiday. They were having a whale of a time groundhopping, with this fixture fitting in perfectly before we headed to Bangkok United v Lamphun Warriors in the evening.

 

They had seen games in Chiang Mai and then at Kasetsart the previous evening before meeting me at Yaek Kor Por Aor, the penultimate stop on the light green line BTS skytrain with plenty of time to sort a taxi on the Bolt app.

In no time we were being collected on a sticky warm afternoon for what was quite a drive which cost 240 Baht. We asked the driver to drop us outside the Valaya Alongkorn Rajabhat University as we were early to have a gander round the nearby Rong Kluea Market.

Maren and I were sorted with a beer each to take with us to the game, though it was quite a walk to the stadium through the academic grounds, meaning our drinks had lost a lot of their cool. Admission was 50 Baht each, which included a small carton of soft drink, the same as was being handed out when we had been to Police Tero nine days previously.

The stadium was different to Google Maps, with a new raised seated stand and athletic track. The floodlights on the nearside were perched on the roofs of the student accommodation outside the arena, which we had never seen before.

I had predicted an away win before kickoff, which looked a good call in the early stages. Saraburi went ahead on four minutes when a slide rule pass put in Natthawut Sukaram to slot away past keeper Sathaporn Yothee.

The second followed three minutes later following an exhibition of shambolic defending as Teerasak Phosrithong and Sitthipong Malai allowed Phadungkiat Artkitkarn to nip to steal the ball and extend the lead. 

The hosts had gargantuan defender Zady Moise trying but failing to sort out the mess. They tried to fight back with a decent move between Intouch Yamyindee and Christian Sacchini, but Yamyindee overran the ball allowing away goalie Patcharaphon Kaewkham to extinguish the danger.

Malai saw a shot deflected just wide as Kanjanapat tried to rally prior to a cross from star man Phosrithong was nodded down by Aba to Yamyindee who saw his shot saved. But it wouldn’t be long before the home defence was up to more antics.

This time Moise and Nuttaphol Boonpun decided to act like strangers and make a proper mess. Wongsakorn Saenluecha pounced but saw his shot tipped onto the bar by Yothee. The action then switched to the other end in what was a watchable contest.

A free kick from Phosrithong was flicked onto the bar and over by Kaewkham before the same two players drew a shot and save through a crowded area. We had a stretch and paid for some more cartons of drinks before seeing an improved Kanjanapat effort.

Whether this was owing to replacing Moise would be a harsh call, but they looked livelier but without really looking like scoring. In fact, the more they pressed the more gaps they left of their own.

The Warlords came close to benefitting when they broke with sub Chokanan Saima-in putting through Kim Junhyeon who timed his run from his own half perfectly but was denied by Yothee who did his best to keep his side hanging on by their fingernails.

 

In the final action, a fine reverse pass by Teerasak Tongkaew set up Red Eagles man Phosrithong who was once again denied by opposite custodian Kaewkham as the gloom descended in stoppage time.

My gloom was gathering after a Bolt driver had accepted our fare but then cancelled ten minutes later, with no other pilots available. We set off on the long walk to the main road when someone obviously realized that we were decent folk.

Each stadium must have a mandatory ambulance on duty on a matchday. The driver wound down the window and told us to jump inside. He took us to the main road right by a footbridge and told us to cross to have a better chance of a taxi to Thammasat University.

What a wonderful man, which epitomized one of many reasons I loved living in such a wonderful country.