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Published on January 7, 2008

The Thai team will leave the country for training at the Manchester City club from January 10 to 15 in preparation for the World Cup qualifying campaign in February.

The Thai players have been drawn with regional powerhouse Japan, Oman and Bahrain in Group B, prompting Thai coach Chanvit Pholchivin to co-ordinate the club's staff to seek a Division 1 team, who play a similar game to the Japanese, for a warm-up match.

"The Japanese players always put their rivals under pressure from their half. As a result, we want our strikers and midfielders to adjust themselves to this kind of game and also know how to play well under pressure," he said.

After the New Year break, the Thai team will get back to training at the Rajamangkhala Stadium today with emphasis on physical strength.

Meanwhile, Thai Beverage had renewed its contract with the Football Association of Thailand with a Bt30-million budget. The main sponsor has signed the deal to back FAT for 10 years. The FAT would receive Bt28million in cash and another Bt2million in products.