TPL teams face challenges on and off pitch

The Thai Premier League will kick off its new season on March 17 and the organisers need to put in more effort to make the competition a success.

The League, known as Sponsor Thai Premier League for sponsorship reasons, will be the 16th edition of Thailand's highest-level club football tournament since its inauguration in 1996. A total of 18 teams are competing.

Last season, Bhumjai Thai Party de facto leader Newin Chidchob's Buriram PEA defied all the odds to emerge as champions with Chonburi FC coming in second.

Khonkaen, Siam Navy and Sriracha were relegated to the Thai Division 1 League after finishing the 2011 season at the bottom three, while the Thai Division 1 champions Buriram, runners-up Chainat and third-place BBCU were promoted to the Thai Premier League.

Buriram merged with Buriram PEA at the end of the 2011 campaign to become Buriram United and take their place in the top-flight competition for the first time this year.

The well-organised side will begin their title defence against Chiang Rai United on March 17. The clash is a repeat of the previous season's ill-tempered final when two Buriram players were sent off in a 2-2 draw. It's a worrisome situation for the organisers, who will have their hands full to keep the fixture trouble-free.

The previous year the tournament hit fever pitch like never before. Success, they say, doesn't come easily. It's for the clubs to cash in on their popularity by way of merchandising products, luring more supporters to the stadiums and managing their organisations in a professional manner. Though the idea is simple, it is not that easy to implement in our country. In fact, many clubs face daunting challenges on and off the pitch. For example, many teams have hit a snag in attracting sponsors. Though sportswear and equipment supplier Nike has signed a three-year deal with Chonburi FC, lesser teams such as Samut Songkhram FC and Sisaket Muangthai FC do not have such a luxury and are begging for some sponsor to come forward.

Even a high-profile team like BEC Tero Sasana are in pursuit of financial sources. Team manager Thanya Wongnak recently travelled to England to make deals with overseas sponsors after their regular sponsor 3K Battery terminated a one-year contract extension.

There is no doubt that teams without proper sponsors will suffer. They have to work with limited budgets and cannot even dream of bringing in talented players. To run a team, and to make a success out of it, determination alone doesn't take it anywhere. It's the cash that speaks. It's one fundamental factor that propels great teams forward.

The Football Association of Thailand (FAT) and the Thai Premier League Co Ltd, the two governing bodies of the Thai Premier League, must take up some difficult matters, however unpalatable it is, right away to make the 2012 season a greater success. The top priority is the security measures that should be put in place for players and spectators.

Hooligans and ill-tempered players have caused damage to life, limb and property and the image of the game in the past. Hopefully, the organisers must have learned lessons from the past and would expect the unexpected. Hooligans and rowdy elements have to be dealt with using an iron hand. Unruly spectators should be warned of drastic action that would deter them from committing any wrongful act and the clubs held responsible for any such incident.

Players, who hail mostly from poor and middle-class backgrounds, must be guided to realise their full potential, while the league should instil in players and fans alike the spirit of justice and fair play.

We can only hope that the new season will be full of excitement and fun and clear of any scandals and brawls.