Thailand’s Asian Games football team.

Thailand's Asian Games squad left for Doha yesterday afternoon, with Vijit Getkaew, the president of the Football Association of Thailand (FAT), among players' relatives, friends and well-wishers who saw the team off at Suvarnabhumi airport.

Chanwit is concerned that the difference of weather conditions between Bangkok and Qatar's capital might take its toll on his players when Thailand launch their campaign in the regional sporting extravaganza.

"My team is 100 per cent fit but my only concern is the weather conditions there," said Chanwit, who led Thailand to a record seventh successive SEA Games title in the Philippines last year.

"In Thailand, it is hot and humid while the weather conditions in Qatar in December are cool and dry, with the average temperature at 15-18 Celsius."

"We will be in Qatar five days ahead of our first match [against Palestine], which should be enough for my lads to acclimatise to the weather," said Chanwit.

The experienced coach, who built his reputation from a series of successes at junior level, insisted his side would do its utmost to make it to the semi-finals, the target set by the FAT.

"We aim to pick up maximum points in the group phase. Then, we will try to book the place in the last four." Chanwit said his side was due to play a warm-up match against one of Qatar's club teams on Saturday and would have another game on November 28 if Palestine withdraw their side.

Thailand faces Arab teams in the preliminary round. Tawatchai Sajjakul, the team manager, believes his side can compete against any Middle East opposition except powerhouses Iran and Saudi Arabia.

In the first round, Thailand have been drawn in Group C along with Kuwait, Yemen and Palestine. Chanwit's side will open their campaign against the unfancied Palestine next Tuesday before completing their fixtures against Kuwait on December 5.