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Published on October 18, 2007

The seven-time champions will play in Pool A along with Indonesia, Burma and Cambodia while 2005 runners-up Vietnam and Asean Cup winners Singapore, two strong contenders, are in Group B with Laos and Malaysia.

For National coach Thongsuk Sampahangsit the groupings do not matter as he has only one option - to finish on top of the group and orchestrate his team to its eighth straight gold medal.

"Winning the gold is the only choice we have. No matter how good or badly we are prepared, people expect us to win always," said Thongsuk, who could get his players for team practice for just five days as they are busy with club commitments.

"The previous coaches have done a wonderful job and there's a load of pressure on me to repeat the act," added the coach who hopes for a rematch with Vietnam in the final.

"If we can beat Indonesia, who are the toughest in the group on the first day, we can breathe easily. A Thailand-Vietnam final will be very exciting to the football fans."

Thongsuk is far from satisfied with the recent form of the team. A 4-0 victory over unheralded Mahidol University on Tuesday was hard to swallow. "It was nowhere near the level I had expected. They made some silly mistakes. They need to play more warm-up games to gel together. The World Cup Qualifying games next month will give them an opportunity," Thongsuk said.

On the women's side, Thailand are drawn in group B along with Burma and Malaysia. Group A consists of Vietnam, Laos and the Philippines.

The men's futsal Group A comprises the Philippines, Malaysia, Burma and Thailand. Indonesia, Vietnam and Laos are in Group B. The women's futsal Group A features the Philippines, Laos and Malaysia while Group B consists of Thailand, Vietnam and Burma.

Draws were also held for baseball, basketball, handball, hockey, polo, rugby, sepak takraw, softball, and volleyball.

Lerpong Amsa-ngiam

 The Nation