Akbar Nawas joins Nakhon Pathom, becomes first S’porean head coach in Thai League 1

SINGAPORE – Already condemned to relegation, Thai League 2 (T2) side Udon Thani had nothing to play for in April’s penultimate clash against promotion chasers Nakhon Pathom United.

Akbar Nawas’ bottom-dwellers subsequently lost 2-1 but he received some reprieve after the match. He was approached by Nakhon Pathom president Panuwat Sasomsup, an admirer of his work, to coach the club for the 2023-24 season.

He also received the blessings of predecessor Thongchai Sukkoki and the club’s agent Majid Chelayi, which were fundamental for the move to materialise.

“After the season ended, that’s when we started talking and how the whole offer came about,” Akbar, 47, told The Straits Times.

“I believe they must have followed me throughout the season. It was difficult to stay on (at Udon Thani) with the financial troubles they were having. So if an offer came about, I told them I would gladly accept.”

Fortunately for him, results went Nakhon Pathom’s way on a nail-biting final day when they recorded a crucial 2-0 win over Samut Prakan City to become T2 champions and secured automatic promotion to T1.

On Monday, Nakhon Pathom officially unveiled Akbar as their new head coach. He is also the first Singaporean to lead a T1 team.

Akbar said: “I’m definitely proud of it because for Singaporean coaches to be recognised outside our home is not an easy task. Aidil (Sharin), (P.N.) Sivaji, Vincent (Subramaniam) – all these coaches left home and fought to get a job outside Singapore.

“This could only happen because of Nakhon Pathom’s trust in me. This will be one of my most challenging propositions.”

The 2019 I-League Best Coach Award winner with champions Chennai City added: “I want to continue to prove myself in T1. The way the club is structured, they are very realistic with their targets.

“I believe this is the kind of team where it’s not just about results. They want continuity more than anything else.”

He will join Kadir Yahaya, currently BG Pathum United’s head of youth, in T1. Other Singaporean coaches who have had stints in Thailand’s top tier include Firdaus Kassim, who was assistant coach at Chainat Hornbill when they suffered relegation in 2016.

Akbar, who turned down offers from three Indian clubs, will have big shoes to fill as Thongchai was appointed as Pathum’s coach in May after an unprecedented six-year spell at Nakhon Pathom.

With the volatility of the Thai league, it is rare for coaches to stay beyond one or two seasons. That will be the biggest challenge for Akbar, who has signed an initial one-year contract.

“Most T2 teams promoted to T1 will get relegated immediately. This is happening almost every year. So it’s very important that we try to survive in the league,” he said.

“We have not bought anyone yet so most of the players are from T2 moving up to T1. I will make them competitive and I’m sure they also want to prove themselves.

“There are numerous young players in the team and if we work hard enough, anything can happen. In T1 it’s a different level, there are many strong teams but I’m sure we can achieve what we set out to do.”

Akbar, who had coached local sides Balestier Khalsa and Tampines Rovers, will be keeping an eye out for recruits from the Singapore Premier League (SPL) before embarking on his Thai sojourn next Friday.

He added: “If they catch my eye in the SPL, why not? It will give some challenge to the Thai players and there have been success stories like Irfan and Ikhsan (Fandi).”