SUPHANAT MUEANTA HAS GONE FROM TEENAGE PRODIGY TO THAILAND'S MAIN MAN AT JUST 22

Still only 22, Suphanat Mueanta has emerged as Thailand's most-influential player in their quest to win an unprecedented third consecutive ASEAN Championship title. Suhaimi Abdullah/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Suphanat Mueanta has always been destined for big things -- from the time he became the youngest player to both debut and then score in Thai League 1 at the age of 15.

A year later, in 2019, he would set a similar record on the continental stage - becoming the AFC Champions League's youngest scorer at just 16 years and eight months.

Many a prodigious talent has however failed in living up to their full potential. That will not be the case with Suphanat.

Still only 22, the fleet-footed attacker recently returned to Buriram United after a loan stint in Europe with OH Leuven.

The fact that he did not make a real breakthrough might led some to suggest it was a failed spell but the exposure he received would have been invaluable, especially considering he did make 14 appearances in the Belgian Pro League.

It will be intriguing to see what the future holds for Suphanat, who should be aiming to continue developing at a higher level than in Thailand. Following in the footsteps of older brother Supachok Sarachat -- who has spent the last two and a half years with Consadole Sapporo -- and venturing to Japan's J1 League seems a logical move.

In the present, though, his focus is firmly fixed on helping Thailand win a record-extending 8th ASEAN Championship title.

And despite his relative youth, his undeniable quality and the fact that he has been around for a while now mean he is even playing the role of main man -- in an talented but inexperienced Thailand outfit missing some notable names in Chanathip Songkrasin, Theerathon Bunmathan and Teerasil Dangda.

The added responsibility has hardly fazed him.

With victories over Timor-Leste, Malaysia and Singapore, the War Elephants are already guaranted top spot -- and a semifinal berth -- ahead of Friday's Group A finale against Cambodia.

Remarkably, Suphanat has been named Player of the Match in each match and already has three goals in as many games.

He is already the early frontrunner for the Most Valuable Player award, which would see him emulate compatriots Kiatisuk Senamuang (2000), Therdsak Chaiman (2002), Chanathip (2014, 2016, 2020) and Theerathon (2022) -- who are all Thai greats in their own right.

Curiously, although his senior international debut was back in 2019, this is Suphanat's first ASEAN Championship -- although he did feature in the AFC Asian Cup at the start of the year and has notably scored against powerhouses like South Korea and United Arab Emirates in the Asian qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup.

But when asked how he felt about the leading role he is playing in the side despite his tender years, Suphanat instead pivoted to the importance of an even contribution from the entire squad.

"I feel everyone in the team is trying to communicate with each other," he told ESPN.

"Everyone is friendly to each other [regardless of age or experience].

"Having this feeling that we are a family is very important for us going forward."

Thailand have certainly been happy to share the workload with their 15 goals coming from seven different scorers, including three each for Suphanat, Patrik Gustavsson and Teerasak Poeiphimai.

Gustavsson's ability to battle away as the focal point in attack has enabled Suphanat to deal plenty of damage from the right, while Teerasak's ability to make an impact from the bench could even see him rewarded with a start against Cambodia.

Further back, captain Pansa Hemviboon provides the assurance in defence, while Peeradon Chamratsamee and Weerathep Pomphan are key lynchpins in the engine room.

Thailand may not be at their best but they are still a formidable outfit.

There is every chance they could go all the way again and win an unprecedented third consecutive title.

If they do so, it is almost certain that Suphanat -- whether he wants the spotlight or not -- would have been the main man behind the success.

- Gabriel Tan

WHO ARE THE 12 TEAMS COMPETING IN THE NEW ASEAN CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP

After a 20-year hiatus, the ASEAN Club Championship returns in 2024-25 -- with action kicking off on Wednesday.

12 teams from all over Southeast Asia will battle it out across two groups, with the top two in each advancing to the semifinals before the decider takes place across two legs next May.

Here, we take a look at each of the teams that will be competing in the tournament.

GROUP A

BG Pathum United

Previously known as Bangkok Glass, where they largely belonged to the upper echelon of Thai football without ever reaching the summit, the club underwent a transformation following a shock relegation at the end of 2019.

In their new guise as BG Pathum United, they would remarkably claim a maiden Thai League 1 crown in their first year back in the top flight and have since solidified their status as domestic powerhouses, while also making waves on the continental stage as they reached the knockout stage of the AFC Champions League in back-to-back editions between 2021 to 2023.

Qualifying for the ASEAN Club Championship after winning the Thai League Cup last season, BGPU boast some of Thailand's stellar names from the past decade - including talismanic playmaker Chanathip Songkrasin, prolific veteran striker Teerasil Dangda and the ever-improving Kritsada Kaman.

Dong A Thanh Hoa

Although not one of Vietnamese football's main heavyweights, Dong A Thanh Hoa have finished in the V.League 1's top three on four occasions since 2018.

It is in cup competitions where they have enjoyed more success after claiming the last two Vietnamese National Cups on offer.

While they did not provide any members of the most-recent Vietnam squad, they do have several handy contributors such as Le Van Thang, Nguyen Thai Son and Lam Ti Phong, while their foreign contigent boasts a distinct Brazilian flavour along with Jamaican forward Rimario Gordon -- who has scored goals for fun since beginning his professional career in the V.League 1 back in 2018.

Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng

Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng ensured Cambodia will be represented in the 2024-25 ASEAN Club Championship after beating Brunei Darussalam's Kasuka to book their place in Group A. SPORTFIVE

As one of two teams that had to progress through the qualifying playoffs, Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng might be regarded as underdogs but opponents should take them lightly at their own peril.

The most recent champions of the Cambodian Premier League, Svay Rieng can call upon a whole host of seasoned Cambodia internationals such as Thierry Chantha Bin, Soeuy Visal and Sareth Krya.

While it may have come against lesser opposition, Svay Rieng also displayed their attacking threat when they put eight goals past Young Elephants of Laos over two legs in the qualifiers.

PSM Makassar

No strangers to international competition, PSM Makassar can consider themselves as veterans of the now-defunct AFC Cup -- formerly the second tier of Asian club competition -- with four appearances since 2019, with their best display coming in 2022 when they made it to the ASEAN Zone final.

On the domestic front, PSM last won Liga 1 in 2022-23, which was what secured their qualification for the ASEAN Club Championship.

The Indonesian outfit have lost several prominent players since then, including Yakob Sayuri, Wiljan Pluim and Ramadhan Sananta but still have an experienced squad that should fuel them with optimism that they can go far in the tournament.

Shan United

The second qualifier from the playoffs, Myanmar's Shan United sealed their place in the group stage following a 4-2 victory over Bruneian side Kasuka.

Although the level of Burmese football has is no longer at its peak in the mid 2010s, Shan United have had regular exposure in the AFC Cup with four consecutive appearances starting from 2018, as well as at the last edition.

Considering they are likely to come under siege against more-illustrious opposition, the likes of goalkeeper Kyaw Zin Phyo and defender Ye Min Thu -- both seasoned Myanmar internationals -- could be pivotal to their prospects.

Terengganu

While Terengganu have never been champions of Malaysia, they do regularly find themselves thereabouts and have achieved runners-up finishes on four occasions -- as recently as in 2022.

With Johor Darul Ta'zim -- champions of both the Malaysia Cup and FA Cup last season -- declining to participate, Terengganu will be one of two teams flying the flag for their country by virtue of being runners-up in the former.

The Turtles have made a decent start to the current Malaysia Super League campaign and boast considerable firepower in Malaysia internationals Safawi Rasid and Akhyar Rashid, who are both currently on loan from JDT.

GROUP B

Borneo Samarinda

Borneo Samarinda suffered heartbreak last season when, after being the dominant force throughout the regular Liga 1 campaign, they would ultimately come up short after falling to a surprise semifinal defeat to Madura United in the championship series.

Borneo have undergone significant changes since then with last season's top scorer Felipe Cadenazzi among the departures, but names such as Stefano Lilipaly, Terens Puhiri and Ikhsan Zirkak should still see them pose a threat.

The ASEAN Club Championship marks Borneo's first foray in international competition, having never qualified for any AFC tournaments previously.

Buriram United

The dominant force in Thai football for the past three seasons, Buriram United can lay claim to being one of Southeast Asia's most successful clubs.

Along with their ten domestic league crowns, the Thunder Castle have twice in their history reached the knockout round of the AFC Champions League and came close to doing so again last term -- proving their ability to match it with the continent's leading teams.

Despite some of their brightest stars leaving for greener pastures in recent times, Buriram will still be led by Thailand forward Supachai Jaided -- who has been the top scorer in the past two Thai League 1 campaigns with a combined 40 goals.

Cong An Ha Noi

In their first season back in the top flight, Cong An Ha Noi would make a stunning rise to become champions of V.League 1 in 2023.

Affiliated with the Hanoi police department, CAHN wasted no time in luring some of the nation's biggest names to Hang Day Stadium -- with their biggest capture coming in the form of Vietnam star Nguyen Quang Hai following a stint in Ligue 2 with Pau.

While their main priority in 2024-25 will be to regain the title they lost to Thep Xanh Nam Dinh last term, the ASEAN Club Championship also offers a legitimate chance for them to claim more silverware and enhance their burgeoning reputation.

Kaya FC-Iloilo

Now three-time champions of the Philippines Football League, Kaya FC-Iloilo have established themselves as their country's powerhouses after years of Ceres-Negros (now United City) dominance.

Kaya have experienced crucial exposure in the AFC Champions League over the past few seasons and, while they have been on the receiving end of some heavy defeats, there have also been some valiant displays against far more formidable opposition.

Experienced Philippines stalwarts Jovin Bedic and Simone Rota continue to make up the backbone of the team but recent additions such as Patrick Deyto, Kaishu Yamazaki and Shuto Komaki have added an extra dimension of stability and dynamism.

Kuala Lumpur City

Just two years ago, Kuala Lumpur City shone on the continental stage as they embarked on an inspired run all the way to the AFC Cup final before ultimately falling to Oman's Al Seeb.

In the Malaysia Super League era, the City Boys have never finished higher than 6th but have proven to be rather adept in cup competitions -- especially when they pulled off an upset over JDT to win the Malaysia Cup final in 2021.

Players such as Paulo Josue, Brendan Gan, Patrick Reichelt and Nicholas Swirad illustrate the quality KL City still boast, although they have lost star forward Romel Morales to JDT.

Lion City Sailors

With Albirex Niigata (S) originally ineligible to represent Singapore in international competition, it will be Lion City Sailors who get the opportunity to feature in the relaunched ASEAN Club Championship.

In their relatively short history since being founded on the back of a takeover of the now-defunct Home United, the Sailors have achieved plenty -- winning the Singapore Premier League in 2021 while also pulling off noteworthy victories in the AFC Champions League over teams such as Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Daegu.

Littered with quality all over the park, especially in attack in the form of the irrepressible Maxime Lestienne, LCS should be relishing the opportunity to show that Singapore football is on par with the rest of the region's leading lights.

- Gabriel Tan