SEA-Games group stage draw was held on Wednesday for the footballing tournament. The outcome was a shock for Thailand and the aim to regain the title received a damp.

Beside the AFF Suzuki Cup, the footballing tournament of the SEA-Games is considered the most important one in Southeast Asia. Winning 13 gold medals, Thailand is the record champion and after an astonishing early exit at group stage in 2009, Thailand's aim is nothing else than to retain the title this year. The plan got a setback after the group stage draw was held on Wednesday in Indonesia. In Group A Thailand's under-23 is to face Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Cambodia.

As reported earlier, Thailand under-23 preparation for the SEA-Games in November is to start on Monday 29 August. Last week Thailand initial squad with 33 players has been announced.

Kawin Thammasatchanan is one of the 33 and will not have to appear for the first training session. On the one hand, Thailand current number one goalkeeper is injured, to the second it is already certain that Kawin will join the U-23 after the seniors World Cup qualifying match against Australia in November. However, the list of the remaining players is to be subject to change over the coming weeks as team manager Kasem Jariyawatwong stated. Besides, the inital list is not a bad read, although most of the players are not familiar to most. BEC-Tero striker Ronnachai Rangsiyo probably is one most of you recognise. After he scored a hat-trick against TTM-Phichit this weekend, he has now 13 goals on his account and leads the scorer table of the Thai Premier League together with Sarayuut Chaikamdee from Bangkok Glass FC.

There are still a few more months to go before the 26th SEA-Games in Indonesia officially top be opened. However on yesterdays executive meeting of the federation a course was set for Thailand's under 23 preparation, which should start soon.

With the World Cup qualifiers, SEA-Games and even the U19 Asian Championship qualifications, all being held in October/November, there will be no TPL action to bee seen during November. Although the TPL and FAT made some plenty of room for the tournaments in their initial 2011 calendar, we will see some rescheduling again. When it comes to selecting players for the national team squads, it already was made clear that Winfried Schaefers selections have the priority over the U23. Additionally in yesterdays meeting it was underlined that the national sides (senior and under 23) are the priority over the league and all clubs will have to support.

That was close. It took Thailand a lot of efforts in the return leg of the Asian pre-olympic qualifiers against Palestine to advance to the next round. A penalty shout out was necessary to decide which side will the right to move on.

It was a match for the books of history as it marked the first competitive match for a Palestine national team on home soil. Consequently it resulted in a lot of attention by the media from all around the world. Even AFC President Bin Hammam showed up.

On Wednesday, Thailand's under-23 will play his return leg of the Pre-Olympic Qualifier against Palestine. Thailand won the 1st leg by 1-0. A draw or a win would secure them a place in the second qualification round.

Thailand's Pre-Olympic squad travelled to Palestine already on Sunday and it took them about 17 hours until arriving at the hotel. Via Jordan and Israel they had to cross borders three times. Arriving at the West Bank the young lads wrote history. For the first time a Thai National team put a step onto Palestine ground.