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World Cup disease with us until July 9
Chiangmai
Mail Special football Correspondent
Husbands are staying out at night in bars, watching the World Cup. Wives are
sitting at home, surrounded by children, watching the World Cup. Central
Airport Plaza has put aside a corner called quaintly “Plaza Cheer World
Match 2006” so that shoppers can watch the World Cup. Chiang Mai now even
boasts of a tent that houses 3,000 people who are watching the World Cup.
Face painters are making a killing, decorating cheeks and foreheads with
miniature flags of those countries at the World Cup. And all the while,
Chiang Mai’s finest are out at night watching the people who are watching
the World Cup, to ensure nobody has a flutter on the results, even though it
is apparently OK to send in an SMS with your prediction and win prizes if
you are lucky!
 Newspapers are full of items that examine in minute details, the feelings of
every player, every coach and every official in Germany for the World Cup.
You have probably read more about Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen’s
fractured feet than their own doctors. Countries like Togoland, Angola and
Montenegro that you have no idea where they are on the globe are suddenly
stars in the World Cup. There seems to be no end.
Letters from the English speaking folk in Thailand appear in the papers to
complain of a lack of English commentary, while letters come in from Thais
to complain about the standard of the Thai commentary. Arguments ensue over
red and yellow cards, as if they hold the answer to the world’s problems.
It seems nobody is happy, but the fever rages on unabated. Souvenirs are
sold, company staff appear in bright football jerseys, and all the retailers
rub their hands together with glee. It is like an extra Xmas.
However, don’t despair, it all comes to an end on July 9, the jerseys are
sent to the bottom of the wardrobe, and the press will find something else
to feed the frenzied fans. We might, just might, find some other news topics
to fill the pages, but in the meantime, do you think the final could be a
nil-all draw?
Street Soccer to honor HM the King at Kad Suan Kaew
Chiangmai Mail Reporters
16 Chiang Mai teams of 5-player Youth Futsal aged under 18 years old joined
the Street Soccer competition to honor HM the King, held by the Office of
Tourism, Sports, and Recreation in Chiang Mai at Sky Hall, Kad Suan Kaew
Department Store, Chiang Mai. The competition started on June 17-18, and the
competition will be held every Saturday and Sunday.
Thinakorn
Namboonjit, Director of Office of Sports Development, Ministry of Tourism
and Sports, and Recreation in Chiang Mai was honored to open the event.
This competition is to select youth Futsal teams in Chiang Mai to be the
province’s representatives to compete in the Northern region 16 teams
competition between Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, Phrae, Nan, Phayao,
Lampang, and Mae Hong Son. The competition will finish in July.
The four winners will be selected to compete in national level at
Suphachalasai Stadium in Bangkok in August. There will be 40 teams, from 10
regions all over the country to compete this competition. The winner will be
awarded with 100,000 baht cash. First, second and third runner-ups will be
awarded 50,000 baht, 30,000 baht, and 20,000 baht.
This Street Soccer 5-a-side youth Futsal program honoring HM the King is
held by Ministry of Tourism and Sports to promote football playing among
youths who are otherwise at risk of getting into wrong habits.
Witthaya Chuiklab, Asst.
Director of Office of Tourism, Sports, and Recreation in Chiang Mai outlined
the competition.
Prince Royal’s College
scoring at the opening matches.
Players joining in the Futsal
competition.
Chiang Mai Pool League: Bangers blast Out Back
Pat Black
After taking a week out to celebrate the 60 year reign of His Majesty King
Bhumibol, the Chiang Mai Pool League was back in full swing last Friday when
it reached the halfway stage of the current season.
While wins for Half Moon Pub and Friend’s Corner were business as usual,
December Bar ran riot at Happy, La Villa shot up three places in the league
ladder, and in what promised to be a close encounter Chiangers and Bangers
blasted Out Back.
Pool
pin-up Puey from Rock hard Bistro.
At this significant juncture in proceedings, The Moon found themselves where
they left off last season ญ top of the table ญ and they made
sure of that with a comfortable win at home to Rock Hard Bistro. In no time
at all, the visitors were 0-5 down, and credit must be given to the Bistro
for hanging on in there to take three of the four remaining frames.
On the other hand, Happy Bar couldn’t find the heart to fight back from
December Bar’s massive assault of clean sweeping all the singles and going
on for a resounding 8-1 victory that saw them climb to 8th in the league.
Another big climber last week was La Villa, who came out just about best in
a tense bottom of the table clash at The Local. With honors even at the
halfway stage, The Pizza Boys surged ahead 5-3 in the doubles, and despite
losing the final frame, rose three places from one off the basement to 10th
slot.
Perhaps the performance of the night came from second placed Chiangers and
Bangers after producing an exhibition of power and consistency. Out Back
might blame some lapses in concentration, but they were really given very
little chance in the first 3 frames. Kriang pulled back arrears in the
fourth game; however, the constant pressure inflicted by The Bangers took
them into a 4-2 lead at the break and an eventual 7-2 win.
This result meant that Out Back dropped a place to fifth to make way for
Blue Sky Bar, who returned to winning ways at Enjoy Place, and not
forgetting Friend’s Corner ญ still third after coasting past Blue
Sky Garden 6-3 away from home.
Elsewhere, Number 1 Pub was always chasing the game at The Wall. Drawing
level at 1-1 was as near as the away side got to taking a lead and they
fizzled out 2-7 as The Brickies polished off the doubles.
When James took the captaincy over at Chiangers and Bangers, the side was
one of the league’s whipping boys, rooted down amongst the dead men. He
has since been instrumental in bringing The Bangers up into the big time as
serious contenders for championship honors. But last week he told me that he
was moving on. After a brief spell in the UK, he plans to open a new
recording studio in The Philippines.
James will be remembered as the nice guy who usually finished frames by
potting the eight ball down the correct hole. For those of us who know James
as a friend, we wish him and his lady the very best of everything, but as
far as his opponents are concerned, we’re glad to see the back of him.
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