Buriram aim to start year on a high note

Buriram coach Ranko Popovic, centre right, and captain Suchao Nutnum, right, pose with Lanexang United coach Leonardo Da Silva, centre left, and skipper Soukaphone Vongchiengkham during a press conference yesterday.

Buriram United look to kick off the new year in style when they take on Lanexang United in the first leg of the 2016 Mekong Club Championship final today.

The title-holders welcome back captain Suchao Nutnum from a knee injury as they face the Lao Premier League champions at Chao Anouvong Stadium in Vientiane this evening. The match kicks off at 6pm.

The Thunder Castle edged Boeung Ket Angkor of Cambodia 1-0 to win a one-off final in December 2015.

The tournament features clubs from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand. This is the first year the competition has adopted a two-leg format for the final.

Buriram United, entering the tournament as Thai League Cup champions, go straight into the final while Lanexang United, making their first appearance in the competition, have come through the qualifying rounds.

"This game will be our first competitive game of the year and we will do our best. It will be a good test for the players who have been preparing for the new Thai League season," said Buriram coach Ranko Popovic.

"Lanexang United are a good team, a strong team but we will do our best to win the first leg tomorrow. We're here to defend our title and to represent Thai people so we will do our best," added the Serb.

Skipper Suchao added, "I'm ready for this game and all my teammates are raring to go as well. We have been training really well. It should be an entertaining game."

Lanexang's Brazilian coach Leonardo Da Silva said, "It's an honour to play Buriram United because they are a great team full of quality players like Suchao Nutnam and Diogo Luis Santo.

"We will do our best and try to beat them tomorrow."

The second leg will be played at Thammasat Rangsit Stadium on Sunday. The match will be shown live on Thai Rath TV at 7pm.

Buriram share the League Cup title with arch-rivals Muang Thong United after all Thai football was suspended following the passing of King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Oct 13.

The Kirins will play in the Premier Cup, a one-off match between the Thai League Cup winners and a guest team from Japanese J1 League, on Feb 4.