Fadhil Yunus
Former DPMM FC defender Charlie Clough made his debut for new club Nakhon Ratchasima FC during a 2-1 defeat to Chainat Hornbills in the first round of the Thai League Cup 2021/2022 at the Khao Plong Stadium in Chai Nat, Thailand on Wednesday.
The experienced centre-back started the match for the Swat Cats in his first competitive appearance since the Brunei Super League season was cancelled due to the second wave of COVID-19.
Clough joined the Thai outfit during the December transfer window as the club look to strengthen their league’s position in the second leg of the season.
The move came following an announcement that he would be leaving the Gegar Gegar men after a three-year spell amid the uncertainty posed by the pandemic.
The Taunton-born was expected to make his league debut against Chiang Rai United last weekend, but the game was postponed due to a resurgence in COVID-19 cases.
However, Clough could make his first league start this Sunday as Nakhon Ratchasima travel to Police Tero FC at the Boonyachinda Stadium.
It will also be Nakhon Ratchasima’s first outing since a league break at the end of last year. Clough will also have an opportunity to bounce back from the despair of exiting a cup competition.
Nakhon Ratchasima have been drawn against Lampang FC – who lost in a penalty shootout against Thai League 1 leaders Bangkok United in the Thai League Cup – in the third round of the Thai FA Cup on January 19.
Prior to his move to Thailand, the Englishman played an instrumental role in guiding DPMM FC to a second Singapore Premier League (SPL) title in his debut season in 2019.
However, Clough and his former DPMM FC teammates had seen limited football in the past couple of seasons as the Sultanate was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The defender is not the only player associated with Brunei’s football plying his trade in Thailand, as Brunei national forward Faiq Jefri Bolkiah currently plays for Chonburi FC.
The pair’s potential encounter when their respective teams meet in the league on April 2 could cook up an interest in the wider Brunei’s football community.
