Chainat Province Builds Young Football Talent on Tight Budget

Chainat is a small province with around 300,000 residents, a quiet agricultural area without major natural attractions or the glamour of larger cities. Yet in football, the province has truly found its identity. Chainat Hornbill began their professional journey in 2009 in Thai League 3 (formerly Division 2) in the Northern Zone. In their debut year, they finished third, just missing promotion playoffs. The following year, the "Killer Hornbills" maintained momentum, finishing second in the Northern Zone qualifiers and advancing through the national playoff round to become one of four teams promoted to Thai League 2 (formerly Division 1). In the 2011 season, the club underwent significant changes under club president Anucha Nakasat, who aimed not merely to survive in League 2 but to reach League 1 within a single season. A key signing was "Dummy" Phuwadol Suwannathat for the forward position. He repaid the club's faith by scoring 21 goals, claiming the Golden Boot and leading Chainat to promotion to League 1 as runners-up.

Thereafter, Chainat became a fixture in Thai League 1 for five consecutive seasons. Though never title contenders, the club's survival in the top division on a limited budget was remarkable. With other clubs spending heavily to sign top talent, Chainat operated differently as a grassroots, low-cost team. Even with former Liverpool player Florent Sinama Pongolle attempting to save the team, they were relegated in 2016 after finishing second-bottom. However, they returned to League 1 after just one season, only to drop back to League 2 in 2019, where they have remained.

Today, though Chainat is no longer a top-division club, the people of Chainat continue to support their team passionately, as it remains a source of local pride.

Building on a Shoestring

One hallmark of Chainat's football approach is its emphasis on youth development. The club scouts young players from across the region to feed its academy. Local district schools have also taken football seriously, including Chainat Provincial School (Chainat Hornbill Academy), which won the Seven-Sport Games championship recently, as well as Rajprachanukul 46, Hunkapit, and Kuruprachasart schools. These schools provide platforms for youth to develop fully. As these young players mature, Chainat Hornbill recruits them into the senior squad. Many have progressed to the national level, such as Patipat Phothep, a promising midfielder who has been selected for the Thailand U-23 national team. Another example is "Big" Payak Seephanam, a young man from Laos who came to Chainat as a child, developed his football skills there, and eventually became a key player for both Chainat and the Lao national team.

Football and the People of Chainat

Another crucial factor is that the people of Chainat are equally passionate about football as residents of other provinces. The province organizes football tournaments at village, subdistrict, and district levels throughout the year, supplemented by traveling football events that provide platforms for players of all ages. This creates deep-rooted attachment to the sport from childhood. When families want their children to become footballers, parents provide full support, backed by schools in each district that nurture young talent. Additionally, local authorities assist in organizing competitions.