Coach Heng Weighs In on Foreign Player Quota for Thai League: Pros and Cons – Chachoengsao Eyes Top-Four Finish

Witthaya Lauhkul, technical development director at Chachoengsao FC, believes the new foreign player quota for the 2026-27 Thai League season will push Thai players to raise their standards.

Under the new regulations, clubs can register 10 foreign players and field up to 7 per match, with the ASEAN quota eliminated. There is debate about whether this will benefit or harm Thai players, the Thai football industry, and the national team.

When asked for his view, Coach Heng said the policy has both positive and negative aspects. On the positive side, it will motivate Thai players to work harder, and academies will need to evolve their programs with greater emphasis on strength, tactical understanding, and one-on-one competitive play. "We need to strengthen Thai players to compete against foreigners in terms of game understanding, speed, and physical strength, which would bring Thai players to the level of Japan or South Korea. The benefit is it will make our kids fight harder. Importantly, clubs must produce higher-quality players," he said.

Regarding the drawbacks, Coach Heng noted that the national team may suffer, as seen in countries like China and Malaysia where heavy reliance on foreign players reduces opportunities for domestic talent. Player development requires regular matches—without game time, there's no progress.

"Our lack of success at the national level is partly because Thai players get fewer opportunities. Next year will likely be even fewer. But conversely, young Thai players, especially the new generation, must adapt to one-on-one play, game understanding, speed, and strength," he explained.

Lauhkul emphasized that players must develop themselves. While top-four clubs can attract quality foreigners, the rest have mixed-quality squads. He wants Thai players to step up, which will ultimately benefit the national team.

Regarding Chachoengsao's goals for the new season, Coach Heng stated the club aims to finish in the top four. Despite narrowly avoiding relegation last season, the team will have more preparation time with the same coaching staff and new players. He believes the quality of both players and coaching staff will help the club achieve its target.