Kanjanapat FC
Ground: Valaya Alongkorn Rajabhat University Stadium
Capacity: 2,000
Club Founded: 2006
Club Dissolved: 2025
The history of Kanjanapat FC was one of changes of location and name, before the Ko Samui sports resort and academy owners, Maraleina, bought the club. They relocated and then dissolved it following Samui United's promotion to the Thai League system.
Club Origins
Kanjanapat's origins went back to the Department of Science Service FC, based in Sisaket. The club relocated to the capital and changed its title, playing in the FS (Friendly Soccer) League from 2009. They went on to become champions in 2010-11.
From there, the club became Kanjanapat FC, a professional football club, representing the Kanjanapat Group, which traded in the air-conditioning industry. Based at the Stadium of Bangkok University Rangsit Campus, Kanjanapat competed in the Thailand Amateur League in 2019.
Promotion to the Thai League
He was replaced by Uthai Ngamcharoen, followed by Tewet Kamolsin. The following season, the goals were 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.
I had looked at going to see Kanjanapat in action for some time. I had been to the Kanjanapat Arena, used by the Bangkok Premier League club Chibuna FC, which was deemed 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.
Pre-Match
I had predicted an away win before kickoff, which looked like a good call in the early stages. Saraburi went ahead in 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 a 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 before 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.
Ful-Time Taxi Issues
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.
Maraleina Buy Out
There had been rumours circulating in local football that Kanjanapat wanted to sell its football club license. Maraleina owned academies and wanted to have an adult pro side. They bought Kanjanapat FC, retitling it Huahin Maraleina, while intending to relocate it to the seaside city.
Marlaleina dropped Huahin from their title and relocated to Phetchaburi Rajabhat University Stadium. They withdrew from the Thai League ahead of the 2025-26 season. The club had connections with Samui United FC, who had been promoted to Thai League 3 South.
My visit
Kanjanapat 0 Saraburi United 2
Thai League 3 West - Sunday 6th November 2022) Thai League 3 West (att: 162)
👨👨👧👧 162 🎟️ 50 THB (£1.20)
Groundhopping with Friends
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 we met at Yaek Kor Por Aor, the penultimate stop on the light green line BTS skytrain.
Pre-Match
In no time, we were being collected by a Bolt taxi on a sticky, warm afternoon for what was quite a drive, costing 240 THB. 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 bought a beer each to take with us to the game. It was quite a walk to the stadium through the academic grounds, meaning our drinks had lost a lot of their cool. The ticket came with 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 the impression given by 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.
Maren and I bought a beer each to take with us to the game. It was quite a walk to the stadium through the academic grounds, meaning our drinks had lost a lot of their cool. The ticket came with 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 the impression given by 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.
The Match
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.
Malai saw a shot deflected just wide as Kanjanapat tried to rally before 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.
Ful-Time Taxi Issues
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 realised that we were decent folk.
Ambulance to the Rescue
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 realised that we were decent folk.
Ambulance to the Rescue
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, who epitomised one of many reasons I loved living in such a wonderful country.
What a wonderful man, who epitomised one of many reasons I loved living in such a wonderful country.
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