THAILAND LIFE AND CULTURE
Thai League Match Preview — The ‘Kirin’ vs The ‘White Elephants’
Football fitness is the opponent with three games in just six days
Match Day Magazine — Inside Kirin: Muangthong United vs Trat F.C., Saturday, April 6th, 2024.
Welcome to the Thunderdome Stadium. On paper, the Kirin are expecting three points from Trat F.C. and to continue applying pressure towards a top-four finish to the season.
Muangthong United climbed into fifth position following Wednesday’s 5–2 victory over Uthai Thani F.C., now facing relegation.
Trat F.C. are also in the league’s basement with 21 points. Yet the ‘White Elephants’ are a competent team, as shown in their recent 2–1 win over fourth-place B.G. Pathum United.
Fitness Test
The challenge facing Muangthong United will be fatigue. Let’s ask Coach Miloš Joksić to explain:
“Players need at least 72 hours for their bodies to fully recover. Only by the third day can a player safely resume normal intensity. When we have many games close together, this is a challenge.”
- 0–24 hours: massage therapy, stretching, jacuzzi, only light runs if the player feels able
- 24–48 hours: training at 50%
- 72 hours: average training intensity resumes
Muangthong United played last Sunday and Wednesday, which means a difficult fitness test tonight. Trat F.C. have the benefit of an additional rest day, having played Tuesday.
Fortunately, with good depth in the lineup, many of the starting eleven were substituted, giving some of the second string a chance to show their worth.
Profile: The Serbian Sharp-Shooter
Stefan Šćepović (#14) joined Muangthong United this season. The 34-year-old Serbian international came to Thailand from Australia’s Brisbane Roar, and Muangthong United is his 20th club. He featured eight times for Serbia between the years 2012–14.
Šćepović plays as a striker, invading the opponent’s 18-yard box to perform a volley, header, or tap-in off a low pass. He has a knack for being in the right place at the right time and has scored eight goals to date.
Šćepović can also surprise defenders with a creative move, such as a clever flick or back-heel pass.
What’s Next for Muangthong United?
Recent fixture changes see the Kirin travelling to Khon Kaen on April 11th for the League Cup quarter-finals. Then there’s a break over Songkran, and games resume on April 21st against Lamphun Warriors at the Thunderdome.
The month ends at Buriram United.
Stay updated on Muangthong United’s progress through our social media channels:
• Website: http://mtutd.com/en
• Twitter(X): twitter.com/MuangthongUtd
• Instagram: instagram.com/muangthongunited/
• Facebook: facebook.com/MuangthongUnitedFootballClub/
