Fadhil Yunus
Former DPMM FC defender Charlie Clough helped his new club Nakhon Ratchasima FC record a clean sheet during a 1-0 victory against Chiangrai United in the Hilux Revo Thai League 1 at the 80th Anniversary Stadium in Thailand recently.
The experienced centre-back is fast proving a valuable asset for the team after playing an instrumental role in defence that restricted their opponents to a single shot on target.
It also marked a second clean sheet in three league appearances with the Englishman in the side, since joining the Thai outfit in the recent transfer window at the end of last year.
Clough, who was brought in to bolster the squad in the second leg of the season, was named in the starting line-up and formed a central pairing with captain Chalermpong Kerdkaew.
The Taunton-born has so far made five appearances for the Swat Cats including two in the cup competitions in the Thai League Cup and the Thai FA Cup.
In contrast to a lack of competitive football during the past couple of seasons, the defender’s career switch to Thailand has immediately inundated with a string of games having completed the full 90 minutes for a fifth match in a span of two weeks.
Clough, who famously helped the Gegar Gegar men to the Singapore league title in his debut season in 2019, is also in contention of a domestic trophy after steering his new club to the quarterfinals of the Thai FA Cup following a 3-1 win over Lampang FC in the third round.
His new employers have been drawn against the winner of a meeting between Muangthong United and Uthai Thani FC in the last eight on February 16.
Back to the league affairs, the African duo of Ivory Coast’s Amadou Ouattara and Ghana’s Kwame Karikari combined to condemn the 2019 league champions to defeat.
Ouattara’s scintillating move near the by-line was complimented with Karikari’s instinctive finish five minutes from time to settle the tie.
The result put Nakhon Ratchasima level on points with eighth-placed Nongbua Pitchaya and enhanced their chances of faring better than last season when they finished in ninth position.
Clough and his teammates will look to build on their good momentum in their next league clash against out-of-sorts Prachuap FC at home tomorrow.
The Killer Wasp have only won twice this season with their last victory coming in a 1-0 win against basement dwellers last October.
The former DPMM FC man is not the only name associated with Brunei football plying his trade in Thailand this season, with Faiq Jefri Bolkiah now in the ranks of Chonburi FC.
