Thai soccer team miffed by food confiscation

BANGKOK, Nov 24 (Reuters) Thailand's Asian Games soccer team have been dealt a major blow even before a ball is kicked after their entire supply of food was confiscated at Doha airport.

Qatari customs officials seized almost 1,000 dollar of dried fried beef, rice, chillies, fish sauce and chilli paste upon the squad's arrival in Doha, which has left the team manager worried about the players' well-being.

''If the players can't eat, this won't be very good for our team,'' Tawatchai Sajjakul told the Thai-language Thai Rath newspaper.

''It could be a problem later in the tournament.'' Thailand prides itself on its fiery cuisine, and several national team players have gone as far to suggest a lack of Thai food was one of the reasons for their failure to make it in European leagues.

Tawatchai said he hoped his players can get their daily dose of home cooking at a special kitchen set up for Thai athletes at the Kingdom's embassy in Doha, which will start serving meals on Tuesday.

To add to the team's misery, Thai soccer chiefs are desperately trying to secure accreditation for five coaches forced to find hotels after being turned away from the athletes' village in Doha, the Daily News reported.

The Asian Games soccer tournament gets underway on Nov. 28 three days before the official opening of Games.

REUTERS AY VV0944