Mr. Akira Nishino is said to be puzzled over the announcement, by the Thai’s Football Association (FAT), concerning his appointment as new the head coach for Thailand’s national football team yesterday, according to a stunning report by Fox Sports Asia.
“Nishino, who is puzzled by the association’s early announcement, said that he had no plans to go back to Thailand for the time being, and expressed distrust of the Thailand association and the local media,” reported Fox Sports Asia.
The FAT had released a photo of Mr. Nishino and FAT president Pol. Gen. Somyot Poompanmoung shaking hands, after a late evening discussion yesterday, with the headline “Akira Nishino glad to lead Thailand’s national football team and the U23” adding that Mr. Nishino had “already agreed” to the offer.
Pol. Gen. Somyot, however, said today that he was surprised by the report in the Japanese media, claiming that he had asked Mr. Nishino for permission to take and release the photo officially and he seemed fine with it.
Many news outlets in Thailand reported the news, quoting the FAT’s item on its website: http://fathailand.org/news/4351
Mr. Nishino, 64, was Japan’s national football team head coach for the Russian World Cup in April 2018. The team has shown impressive results, with Japan making it to the first knock-out round of 16 teams, but ultimately losing to Belgium, 3-2.
Fox Sports Asia quoted Nikkan Sports saying it revealed a phone conversation, between their reporter and Nishino, during which the coach expressed shock at the news of his appointment adding “I had a meal with the chairman but I didn’t sign it. The media in Thailand is scary. They write something that is not a fact. All I can say is that there is no appointment at this stage.”
Nikkan reported that an understanding regarding the timing of the appointment and annual salary are yet to be reached between the two parties.
