Mahasarakham SBT

Mahasarakham SBT FC

Ground: Mahasarakham Province Stadium

Capacity: 4,347

Club Founded: 2009

League: Thai League 2 (current level)

Based in Isan, in Thailand's northeast, Mahasarakham SBT continues to punch above their weight, pushing towards the top level of football in the country.

Mahasarakham, the Early Years

Originally nicknamed the Isaan Tigers, the club was admitted into the third-tier Regional League North Eastern Division under head coach Pinet Daoruang, playing home matches at IPE Mahasarakham Stadium. A year later, they became Mahasarakham City FC.

The team continually finished in the lower reaches of the final standings before the club title was changed to Mahasarakham United, with matches being switched to Mahasarakham Rajabhat University Stadium. A much better performance was collated under the name of Marasarakham FC in 2015.

Thai League Restructuring

Rewat Yothapakdee banged in the goals after the club had been placed in Thai League 4 Northeast following a restructuring of the leagues. The 'Great Purple Crabs', as the team had been rechristened, were placed in the third-tier Thai League 3 Northeast, under coach Manaschai Pupaisit, after another league restructuring.

Fellipe Veloso scored the goals for the club in 2021-22, which added Sambaitao (or SBT) to their title, and also introduced a new crest. Sanphapakron Srijan started the season as coach before being replaced by Jakaraj Tonehongsa.

Promotion to Thai League 2

The improvement continued a season later, as the team was crowned as regional division champions. Nattapon Thaptanon and Wanit Chaisan shared the goals for Jakarat’s team, while Ittikorn Kansrang was impressive in goal. The playoffs proved a step too far in the quest for promotion.

The playoffs were reached again in 2023-24 after the goals of Leandro Assumpção caused the damage. A two-legged win against Phatthalung saw Mahasarakham promoted. The 'Mealy Crabs', their latest nickname, went up to Thai League 2 while the club carried out extensive work behind the scenes.

The playoffs were reached once again in 2024-25, ending in semi-final defeat to Kanchanaburi Power. Coach Jakarat was replaced by Dusit Chalermsan in September 2025. 

My visit

Mahasarakham SBT 0 Sisaket United 0

Thai League 3 Northern Playoffs - Saturday 22nd April 2023

👨‍👨‍👧‍👧 1,349 🎟️ 60 THB (£1.40)

Opportunity Knocks

A month or so before this match, I had hopes of going, but I hadn’t a clue how I would manage it. Then, a week before it, my wife Taew was driving us back to our Sisaket home from the Chiang Mai International Cricket Sixes when we passed the stadium.

Around the same time, she said she wanted to stop off and see an old friend who lived an hour away in Suwannaphum. Not a problem, I said as my brain quickly worked out the possibilities opening in front of my eyes.

Isan Heat

Neng had a roadside restaurant and knocked me up a very tasty pad krapow for lunch. The two old friends got nattering, and I suggested we return and stay over after the football so that they could enjoy some drinks and food.

All agreed we set out around midday on matchday, with my good lady suggesting some sightseeing on the way, which was not a problem for me. Phrathat Na Dun is a religious sanctuary holding Buddhist artefacts, and it was bloody hot.

Wife Surprises Me

I was as hot as I’d ever felt in my life and delighted to have an ice cream and cold drinks. We stopped by the road for food, and we were on our way, arriving at Mahasarakham Province Stadium just over half an hour before kick-off.

Explaining to Taew where to use the toilets and get a drink and food if she wanted it while I went into the match, I was taken aback when she said she was going in with me. Not to say delighted. Her first-ever live match. I must have been doing something right!

Smart Judgement

The stadium was similar to many others owned by the Sports Authority of Thailand, with one covered stand, an open one opposite and a running track around the pitch. I took us to where I guessed the sensible away fans who wanted shelter would head. 

My judgement was sound as we were among the majority of the away fans with just a smattering in the official visitors’ section in the sun opposite. We were treated to an entertaining and feisty encounter with no passion missing. 

The Match

The hosts badly needed a win to stay in touch with a top-two place and possible promotion. United were playing for pride and to stop their Isan rivals. Sometimes I questioned the attitude of the Sisaket players, particularly the three Brazilians, but not on this occasion, as they gave everything. 

Romario was outstanding throughout, getting stuck in, making intelligent runs, and always being available. Both defences held the upper hand, with chances being at a premium. The hosts had a header go over from Brazilian striker Erivelto in the early stages that should really have been on target before Thepwirun Chatkittirot volleyed wide.

A New Supporter

Taew was getting right into it, probably not realising the physical nature of a game from her brief looks on TV, laughing at the comments of other fans, including a disabled Sisaket follower whom I’d seen at every match I’d attended. A proper fan, as he constantly made a noise with his homemade vuvuzela.

A fine wide pass picked out United’s Suphaphon Sutthisak, who always impressed me. His low cross was close to being converted by Cristian Alex and Neto, but neither could get a definitive touch to force the ball home.

Shortly after, all hell broke loose when Romario was extremely incensed as he later indicated that a home defender had grabbed him somewhere painful and private. It took many players from both sides to calm him down while home defender Nopparat Sakunood ran across the pitch to crank him up further.

Both players received a yellow card, and fortunately, the half-time whistle came soon afterwards. But not before Nattapon Thaptanon was played in, with his low cross deflected into the side netting. At the break, I took advantage of a large bucket of popcorn and a beer for a combined total of just 100 THB.

Increased Entertainment

Shortly after the restart, the reliable Sisaket keeper Itthipon Kamsuprom was fortunate when he kicked out of his hands straight into the back of a defender, with the ball rebounding past him and just wide of the post. Wanit Jaisaen then saw his shot come back off the underside of the Sisaket bar. Erivelto fluffed his follow-up. 

Phituckchai Limraksa saw his effort superbly pushed over by Itthipon. At the other end, a low cross from Bunyarit Srinam was put on the half-volley over by Neto, who should have done better. Both sides went for it in the closing stages, with the entertainment levels rising as play became stretched.

With three minutes of normal time remaining, Itthipon flapped at a cross. The ball fell to a forward whose sliced effort was headed goalwards and onto the underside of the bar by Teerapak Punboonchu, before the follow-up from Alberto Gouveia was headed off the line by Pakornkiat Kaena, before Komkrik Cumsokcheak saw his shot go narrowly wide.

Then a bicycle kick from Erivelto passed by the post, with Romario seeing his long-range low free kick gathered by keeper Ittikorn Kansrang in the last of the action. The home fans couldn’t believe their side hadn’t scored.

Post-Match Fun

I was happy that Sisaket gave it everything and felt that the players would have gone to any length to prevent their opponents from winning, which I liked. The erratic performance of the erratic referee Narongsak Kubkun also added to the drama.

At full time, the journey took around ninety minutes back to Suwannaphum, where we met Neng at Leela house, Kasalong. The large Leos were only 70 THB, while the surroundings and service were excellent. I enjoyed the live band too.

Restaurant and Hotel

In fact, I also thought the food was very nice, but the two ladies disagreed, and as they are both fine chefs, I decided that they were correct to save time. They probably were, to be fair, with my taste buds still not accustomed to the judgment of the quality of Thai food.

We said goodbye and headed to the nearby Premium Hotel, which was anything but what its name suggested, but we were tired and had a few drinks, so it was just about better than nothing. At least it gave us a laugh later.

Journey Home

The following morning, we headed home early, stopping at the attractive Rasisalai Dam tourist attraction en route and then Anny Restaurant near Sisaket Railway Station for breakfast before buying an air-con unit for the house and doing the weekly shopping. A quality trip, with hopefully many more similar ones to come.