Bangkok: "Coach Bear," officially known as Rakphol Sainetngam, is determined to guide the Thai futsal team to the second round of the 2026 Asian Futsal Championship. The team is gearing up for the championship, scheduled to occur in Indonesia from January 27th to February 7th.
According to Thai News Agency, Coach Rakphol Sainetngam recently led the Thai men's futsal national team in a training session at the FA Thailand futsal court. The squad mostly comprises players who secured a silver medal at the 2025 SEA Games. Notable players include Muhammad Usmanmusa, with the addition of Panas Kittiphanuwong to the roster. Coach Bear expressed his enthusiasm about returning to coach the national team and highlighted the need to improve the team's defense, which he identified as a weakness. He acknowledged Lebanon as a strong opponent, especially with their new Spanish coach, aiming to surpass the group stage.
Muhammad Usmanmusa shared his excitement about reuniting with Coach Bear, with whom he previously collaborated during the 2021 Futsal World Championship in Lithuania. Usmanmusa's goal is to reach the tournament final, recognizing the challenge posed by strong competing teams.
The Thai national futsal team is placed in Group B, alongside Vietnam, Kuwait, and Lebanon. The team plans to travel to Indonesia on January 24th or 25th, in preparation for their opening match against Lebanon on January 27th at 1:00 PM.