Latest news with #Kanchanaburi
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Ryhan Stewart rubs shoulders with former EPL stars in new Thai League journey
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox SINGAPORE – In the last decade, Singapore defender Ryhan Stewart – like fans all around the world – watched in awe at some of winger Andros Townsend's stunning goals in the English Premier League. It includes a sublime 30-metre volley against Manchester City in the 2018-19 season that clinched a 3-2 win for Crystal Palace. In the upcoming Thai League 1 season, Stewart will get a close-up view of the Englishman's prowess down the flank, with the pair now teammates at newly promoted Kanchanaburi Power. Fullback Stewart could be paired on the right flank with Townsend, who has spent much of his career operating on the wing. The 2025-26 Thai League 1 kicked off on Aug 15 and Stewart is one of eight players flying the Singapore flag across its 16 top-flight clubs. This is the highest number of Singaporeans plying their trade in Thai League 1, which does not have a limit on the number of Asean players that each club can register. The other seven are the Fandi brothers – Irfan (Port FC), Ikhsan (Ratchaburi) and Ilhan (Buriram) – Jordan Emaviwe (BG Pathum United), M. Anumanthan (Kanchanaburi), Bill Mamadou (Nakhon Ratchasima) and Kyoga Nakamura (Bangkok United). Last season, there were six. Recent Singapore Premier League alumni have also made the move to Thailand, with SPL golden boot winner Tomoyuki Doi (BG Pathum), and former BG Tampines Rovers duo Seia Kunori (Bangkok United) and Itsuki Enomoto (Chiangrai United) being prised away. Stewart, who joined Kanchanaburi in June after leaving Lithuanian top-flight side FK Riteriai, has already been enthralled by Townsend in training since the 34-year-old ex-Tottenham Hotspur, Palace and Everton winger joined the club at the start of August. Mauritania forward Aboubakar Kamara, 30, who played 24 matches for Fulham in the EPL, is also a new signing at the club. 'The sharpness and the speed of play he (Townsend) has is obvious,' said Stewart, 25, who had previously played for two other Thai clubs, Pathum and Chiangmai FC. 'He's used to a higher speed in the EPL and his sharpness is a bit different. Both (Kamara and Townsend) have played at the highest level, and they show their quality in training. 'The way they talk and communicate with the players, like how they give specific instructions on the pitch, helps me as well.' Former Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur winger Andros Townsend at an event where he is presented as a player for Kanchanaburi Power FC. PHOTO: KANCHANABURI POWER / FACEBOOK Stewart added that working with this calibre of players showed he made the right decision to return to South-east Asia. 'There were some questions and criticisms of why I came back to Asia. But deep down, I knew this was the right choice. When I talked to the club, I saw their ambition,' said Stewart, adding that they are eyeing a top-three finish. 'Working with these players day in and out is going to help me improve too.' The first day of action saw Stewart go head-to-head with compatriot and close friend Ikhsan, who has joined Ratchaburi on loan from Pathum. The teams drew 1-1. Ikhsan, whose team will also feature in the AFC Champions League 2, is aiming to hit the ground running as he seeks to establish himself again in Thai football. He had limited game time with Pathum in the 2024-25 season due to issues with his right knee and quadriceps. He had only eight starts and 13 substitute appearances across four competitions, scoring three goals. Ikhsan said: 'I just want to try to score as many as I can, push myself into the starting XI and contribute to the team. 'Game time is crucial for me, especially in a year when the national team has important matches.' The 26-year-old, who first moved to Thailand in December 2021 when he joined Pathum from Norwegian side FK Jerv, is excited to see more of his countrymen there. 'It's great to see more Singaporeans in the league,' he said. 'It shows the level here is attractive and that our players can compete. It also shows that the SPL is doing something positive. 'I keep in touch with the boys here, and whenever our schedules line up, we hang out and grab a bite. The closest one to me right now is Ryhan, so we meet up whenever we can. Recently I went to his town for a barbecue.' Meanwhile at Pathum, Emaviwe, who was typically deployed as a defender with the Lions or Singapore Premier League club Balestier Khalsa, will look to nail down a spot as a striker. Jordan Emaviwe in action for BG Pathum United in a pre-season friendly. He will be a forward for the Thai League side this season. PHOTO: COURTESY OF JORDAN EMAVIWE The 1.95m player, who joined Chiangrai in January 2025, was thrust into the forward's role there. He finished the season with five goals in 13 league matches and earned a move to Pathum. Emaviwe said Pathum, who are also involved in the Asean Club Championship and ACL 2, also plan to field him up front. 'We're playing in a lot of competitions, and as a team, the objective is to win a trophy this season,' said Emaviwe, who feels that his strength and speed could help him flourish as a goal poacher. 'In terms of personal goals, I'm going to be a striker and I want to score at least 10 goals. 'I'll have a full season playing as a striker, so I am going to get a full flow of playing up top. I'm looking forward to that.' If his target of scoring goals aplenty bears fruit, it will also have to come against some of his compatriots. 'It's a competitive league and I'm excited that we are all going to be testing ourselves at this level,' he added.
New Straits Times
09-08-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Thai club Kanchanaburi sign ex-EPL stars Townsend and Kamara
KUALA LUMPUR: The Thai League 1 has just gone global. Newly promoted Kanchanaburi Power have stunned the football world by snapping up two former Premier League stars — Andros Townsend and Aboubakar Kamara — in a transfer coup few saw coming. Ex-Tottenham, Crystal Palace and Everton winger Townsend has left Turkey's Antalyaspor to sign for Kanchanaburi — the 16th club of his career since making his Premier League debut in 2009. Kamara, best known for his explosive pace and power at Fulham, will link up with Townsend to form a potentially lethal attacking partnership the fans hope can fire the club to silverware. And the spending spree doesn't stop there. Malaysian naturalised striker Sergio Aguero — a proven goalscorer for Harimau Malaya — has joined from Sri Pahang, along with Luxembourg international Gerson Rodrigues, who adds flair and a fiery edge after stints in 12 countries. For a club founded just eight years ago, Kanchanaburi are wasting no time showing they mean business. After finishing fourth in Thai League 2 last season, they sealed a historic promotion with a dramatic 5-4 aggregate play-off win over Phrae United, booking their place in the top flight for the very first time.
Yahoo
05-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Andros Townsend has completed the most surprising transfer of the summer
The most surprising transfer of the summer is here, and it comes in the form of Andros Townsend. Townsend has been a bit of a journeyman of late, playing for Everton, Luton and Antalyaspor over the past four seasons. But now the former England international has secured a move to Thailand. Townsend completed his move to Kanchanaburi Power this week, marking a new adventure in south-east Asia. Kanchanaburi Power were promoted to the Thai top flight last season for the first time. Townsend is now one of seven allotted non-Thai players in the squad, joining former Real Sociedad winger Alain Oyarzun and Algeria international Mehdi Tahrat. 📸 Matt McNulty - 2024 Getty Images
Daily Mail
04-08-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Former Premier League journeyman Andros Townsend joins his 16th different club as he signs for little-known Thai minnows
Former England winger Andros Townsend has completed a surprise move to Thai minnows Kanchanaburi Power - the 16th different club of his career. Townsend, who earned 13 caps for the Three Lions between 2013 and 2016, put pen to paper after his new side were promoted to the Thai top-flight last season. He will wear the No 25 for Kanchanaburi and is clearly not ready to hang up his boots despite spending much of his summer commentating at the Club World Cup. The shock signing was officially announced on the personal Facebook page of Kanchanaburi's club chairman, Prawat Kithammakunnit. Townsend posed for a photo holding his new shirt on the Bridge over the River Kwai, one of Thailand's most important historical landmarks. The club are located in Mueang, around 93 miles west of Bangkok and near the border of Myanmar. Kanchanaburi Power were founded just eight years ago and have already gone through three rebrands, which have seen its name change from Singha Golden Bells to Dragon Pathumwan Kanchanaburi and finally, its current iteration. He played for several clubs in the Premier League and has now represented 16 different sides Townsend has been joined by fellow new signings Aboubakar Kamara, the former Fulham striker, and Luxembourg international Gerson Rodrigues. Fifteen-time Algeria international Mehdi Tahrat is also on the club's books. Townsend will wear 'Townsend Sr' on the back of his shirt instead of his last name. This is because he has a young son named Andros Townsend Jr. He made 23 appearances last season for Turkish side Antalyaspor, including 18 in the Super Lig, but quickly departed the club despite signing an initial two-year deal. The veteran forward previously represented the likes of Tottenham, Everton, Newcastle and Crystal Palace in the Premier League. His most recent stint in the top-flight came at Luton during the 2023-24 campaign. Townsend earned his first senior call-up for England in September 2013 and made his debut against Montenegro in a World Cup qualifier, in which he scored. He also found the target for the Three Lions against San Marino during Euro 2016 qualification and after scoring an equaliser against Italy in March 2015.
The Sun
04-08-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Ex-England star Andros Townsend joins Thai minnows founded 8 YEARS AGO in transfer to 16th club of his career
ANDROS TOWNSEND had signed for Thai club Kanchanaburi Power, marking a move to the 16th different club of his career. The 13-time England international, 34, joins the club after they were promoted to the Thai top division last season. 3 Townsend, who will wear number 25 for his new club, spent his summer commentating on the Fifa Club World Cup. But it looks as if he's not ready to make the permanent jump to punditry and still has some miles left in his legs after penning his deal with Kanchanaburi. The little-known club was established just eight years ago and is based in Mueang, Thailand. Since its inception in 2017, the club has undergone three rebrands that have seen it change its name from Singha Golden Bells to Dragon Pathumwan Kanchanaburi and now Kanchanaburi Power. Townsend joins 15-time Algeria international and former Lens defender Mehdi Tahrat at the Thai outfit. Townsend will wear "Townsend Sr" on the back of his shirt instead of the last name most fans are used to seeing him wear. That's because he has a son named Andros Townsend Jr, who you would assume he hopes could follow in his footsteps in the future. Townsend spent last season in the Turkish top flight, making 23 appearances for Antalyaspor. Andros Townsend's career A brief look at the career of Andros Townsend so far... 2009 - 2016: Tottenham Hotspur 2009: Yeovil Town (loan) 2009 - 2010: Leyton Orient (loan) 2010: MK Dons (loan) 2010: Ipswich Town (loan) 2011: Watford (loan) 2011: Millwall (loan) 2012: Leeds United (loan) 2012: Birmingham City (loan) 2013: QPR (loan) 2016: Newcastle United 2016 - 2021: Crystal Palace 2021 - 2023: Everton 2023 - 2024: Luton Town 2024 - 2025: Antalyaspor 2025 - present: Kanchanaburi Power Across his career the winger has played for 15 different clubs, including the likes of Everton, Tottenham and Crystal Palace. His last stint in the Premier League came during the 2023/24 season, when he made 27 league appearances for Luton Town. Former England and Prem star Andros Townsend admits 'I don't know who owns me' as freak hold-up wrecks move to Turkey 3 3
