Surin Khong Chee Mool (Thailand)

 

Surin Khong Chee Mool FC is a professional football club from the city of Surin which is in the northeast Thai region of Isan. They were formed in 2017 to compete in the Thailand Amateur League, playing home games at the stadium of Rajamangala University of Technology Isan, Surin Campus.

After winning their group, KCM progressed to the final round, where a 5-4 victory over Nonghan saw the club promoted to T4 Northeast for the 2018 season, renaming themselves Surin Sugar Khong Chee Mool. 

Eighth place in their inaugural season as a professional club saw the team finish eighth, which was backed up with sixth place in 2019 as Japanese striker Miyake Kyohei put away the goals, prior to the Thai leagues being restructured and turning to a European calendar.

Having dropped Sugar from their title, ‘The Cruel Wild Elephants’ finished the 2020-21 campaign in seventh spot with Apiwat Chuenban as top scorer under head coach Nirut Ruangsrichart, as the season was abruptly ended owing to Covid-19.

Thapakorn Deemark took over team affairs at the start of 2021-22, prior to Kamolchai Yingmeeyou taking over. Deemark had another spell at the helm before the appointment of Surasin Rinyotha. He was replaced by Jobsakon Siyacheep in a chaotic season which saw KCM end in twelfth place as Sarawut Wanpriangthaw led the scoring chart.

The same position followed in 2022-23. Coach Ruangsrichart returned to the bench while the goals of Kroekrit Rodmueang helped stave off relegation. Another struggle was played out in the 2023-24 season, with Apisit Im-Amphai taking charge of the team.

Surin Khong Chee Mool FC will play in Thai League 3 Northeast in the 2023-24 season.

My visit

Sri Narong Stadium

Surin Khong Chee Mool 0 Sisaket United 4 (Sunday 21^st January 2024) Thai League 3 Northeast (att: c250) 

A road trip to an away game is always enjoyable, The chance to head away overnight with my wife Taew is always looked forward to, especially if meeting up with friends such as Gary and Noon as in this occasion.

The couple had come through to Sisaket for the fixture between the two sides earlier in the season which ended in a 6-0 home win. KCM were shocking on that occasion, although I had earlier enjoyed their spirit and attitude in their defeat away to Rasisalai United. 

However, this latest encounter is a game that wouldn’t live long in the memory, played on a bumpy pitch, between an awful home team and visitors who somehow made hard work of them until tiredness led to some shocking errors.

Yet it took Sisaket until the very last minute of the first half before they took the lead. Their pedestrian approach unbelievably negative. I had warned Gary beforehand, and he was astonished having seen KCM several times and knowing just how bad they are. 

In keeping with much of the dross, a misdirected free kick was fumbled by hapless keeper Chaturong Singjanusong. New signing, Cameroon forward Isaac Mbengan tapped home into the empty net. KCM had earlier unbelievably come close to leading.

A glancing header came back off the foot of the post, and then goalie Adisak Lambelsah nearly fumbled a long range free kick into his own net. The usually excellent Matias Panigazzi showed why he is only playing T3 football as he had a great chance for the visitors, but he didn’t get a shot away because he can’t kick with his right foot. 

Mbengan headed straight at the keeper from five yards, when anywhere else would have ended in a goal. After I’d nipped out and brought back some beers from the shop across the road, the game seemed to improve in the second half.

Home defender Nanthachai Laokaew doing a very passable impression of Hightower from Police Academy clumsily mishit a back pass allowing Danilo in to increase the lead. Sadly, they took the stopper off shortly after. 

I was a great fan of his comedic performance as it reminded me of the Elephant Show I’d visited with my family on the adjacent showground a couple of months previously. The Brazilian added his second to make it 3-0 on seventy-seven minutes.

This was before that thing of rarity, a fine passing move, set up sub Phattharapong Phengchaem to lob the keeper, who was going goodness knows where, eight minutes from time. Somehow KCM were kept out in a rare foray before a couple of Sisaket players contrived to cock things us when clean through. 

The official crowd was announced as 86, which drew some laughter, with the match being played at Sri Narong Stadium, traditionally the home of Surin City. The usual KCM university campus stadium being out of commission for a priority event. That’s how it is here in Thailand, with football quite low down the pecking order.

My good lady drove us the two hours to meet up with friends, and we headed to a wonderfully designed restaurant over a manmade lake for lunch out in the countryside. Sadly, the service was poor, but it could have been a one off. 

Post match, Subtle Hub had some home brewed beer on tap, with the Mango Cider and then a double hopped strong IPA making me merry. We laughed at some friendly inebriated young locals. How little did I know.

Into town, with Surin having plenty of options for Thais and westerners. We selected Fat Boyd because we knew that they would be showing Thailand v Oman in the AFC Asia Cup. Live music, food, and a drinks promotion were all welcome. 

That match ended 0-0, virtually guaranteeing Thailand progress to knockout stages which was beyond pre-tournament expectation. Again, the interest in football sometimes not being comprehended by non-Thais as we were about the only ones watching one of the eight screens.

Back to Subtle Hub when an intended nightcap turned into a lock in as the boss and his mate wanted to watch the Liverpool game, and consequently Monday became a write off. I’m glad our hotel was just across the road.