Melbourne Victory duo Surat Sukha and Sutee Suksomkit have been selected for Thailand’s upcoming AFC Asian Cup 2011 qualifiers against Singapore on November 14 and 18 in Singapore and Bangkok respectively.
Melbourne Victory duo Surat Sukha and Sutee Suksomkit have been selected for Thailand’s upcoming AFC Asian Cup 2011 qualifiers against Singapore on November 14 and 18 in Singapore and Bangkok respectively.
The pair will join their Thailand teammates following Melbourne Victory’s Round 14 match against Central Coast Mariners on November 7 and will return in time for the club’s Round 15 match against Brisbane Roar on November 21, with a FIFA international break separating the two fixtures.
Defender Sukha and striker Suksomkit were both part of the Thailand side that recorded a 1-1 draw against English Premier League giant Liverpool in July, with the latter netting the second-half equaliser.
After scoreless draws against Iran and Jordan, Thailand currently sits third in Group E of AFC Asian Cup 2011 qualifying, one point behind Singapore and two points behind Iran with four matches remaining.
Melbourne Victory Football Operations Manager Gary Cole said: “Surat and Sutee are experienced and well respected members of the national team and we wish them all the best in Thailand’s Asian Cup qualifiers against Singapore next month.
“Thankfully with the FIFA international break in place they won’t miss any Melbourne Victory games, and the Thai association will fly them direct from Bangkok to Brisbane for our match against Brisbane Roar at Suncorp Stadium.”
Sukha has played in all but one of Melbourne Victory’s matches this season after joining from Thai side Chonburi FC, while Suksomkit made his debut for the club against Adelaide United on Saturday in the first of his nine-match guest stint.
Thailand’s games against Singapore will be former England and Manchester United captain Bryan Robson’s first at the helm of the national team after he signed a four-year deal earlier this month to succeed Peter Reid, who left to become assistant manager at English Premier League side Stoke City.
