Thailand's biggest football superstar Teeratep Winothai is aiming to kickstart his A-League dream by starring against the Socceroos this July in the Asian Cup.
Speaking exclusively to au.fourfourtwo.com, the 22-year-old attacking midfielder says a stellar performance against Arnie's Aussies this July in Bangkok will put him firmly in the window for an A-League berth.
"To be fair, I want to play in the A-League. I want to improve. I don't know much about the league but I know there are a lot of Thai people in Australia and they love their football," Winothai says in a Thai accent tinged with cockney.
"I hope that I play well. I think I will."
Winothai is a former Crystal Palace trainee who burst onto the football scene in 1999 when he was selected in the Thailand U/17 squad as a 14-year-old.
He was signed by Palace and spent three years in London. There was even talk of Manchester United being interested in him but he returned home in 2004.
Since then he's scored regularly for the national Olympic team and the national side.
"Moving to Australia is important for me to take the next step in my career. Here in Thailand, it's just semi-professional football. The refereeing isn't very good and they don't promote the games very much," says the BEC Tero Sasana striker who scored a last minute goal on Saturday to defeat Osotspa 1-0 and maintain the side's lead at the head of the Thailand Premier League.
And Winothai believes the Thais could pull off a shock against the Aussies. "The conditions are going to help us," he says of the oppressive humidity in Bangkok and the expected heavy rains in July. "But it's going to be very, very difficult."
And playing against the star-studded Aussies will be a dream come true when the two sides meet at the sprawling Rajamangala stadium in outer Bangkok. Winothai has great admiration for one in particular.
"Tim Cahill is the biggest danger when we play Australia. He can do everything. He's good, he's got talent and he has commitment."
Winothai, however, believes that it will be the Socceroo captain who will be holding up the Asian Cup trophy next July. "The best teams in the tournament are Japan, South Korea and Australia... who I think will win it."
"To be fair, I want to play in the A-League. I want to improve. I don't know much about the league but I know there are a lot of Thai people in Australia and they love their football," Winothai says in a Thai accent tinged with cockney.
"I hope that I play well. I think I will."
Winothai is a former Crystal Palace trainee who burst onto the football scene in 1999 when he was selected in the Thailand U/17 squad as a 14-year-old.
He was signed by Palace and spent three years in London. There was even talk of Manchester United being interested in him but he returned home in 2004.
Since then he's scored regularly for the national Olympic team and the national side.
"Moving to Australia is important for me to take the next step in my career. Here in Thailand, it's just semi-professional football. The refereeing isn't very good and they don't promote the games very much," says the BEC Tero Sasana striker who scored a last minute goal on Saturday to defeat Osotspa 1-0 and maintain the side's lead at the head of the Thailand Premier League.
And Winothai believes the Thais could pull off a shock against the Aussies. "The conditions are going to help us," he says of the oppressive humidity in Bangkok and the expected heavy rains in July. "But it's going to be very, very difficult."
And playing against the star-studded Aussies will be a dream come true when the two sides meet at the sprawling Rajamangala stadium in outer Bangkok. Winothai has great admiration for one in particular.
"Tim Cahill is the biggest danger when we play Australia. He can do everything. He's good, he's got talent and he has commitment."
Winothai, however, believes that it will be the Socceroo captain who will be holding up the Asian Cup trophy next July. "The best teams in the tournament are Japan, South Korea and Australia... who I think will win it."
Related Articles
Socceroo-in-waiting seals Championship deal
Fringe Socceroo swerves A-League to remain in Europe after Fulham exit
