Buriram United, the ten-time record winners of Thai League 1, are on a roll this season across various competitions both domestically and on a continental level.
Despite successive defeats to BG Pathum United and Ratchaburi FC, Buriram still have destiny in their own hands in a bid to claim a record fourth successive Thai League 1 title.
They hold a one-point lead over title challengers Bangkok United heading into the final matchday where they will take on already relegated Nongbua Pitchaya.
Buriram are also through to the semi-finals of the Thai FA Cup, where they will face second-tier side Chanthaburi FC early next month and have also reached the semi-finals of the Thai League Cup after seeing off Bangkok United in extra time.
However, what has been more impressive are their performances outside Thailand with Buriram in a strong position to reach the final of the inaugural ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup™ whilst also being the only Southeast Asian club to reach the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League Elite.
“We’ve won the Thai League three times in a row. Buriram wins everything in Thailand. Now, through the Shopee Cup and the AFC Champions League Elite we're hungry to show that we are not only better in Thailand, but also in Southeast Asia,” said Buriram defender Jefferson Tabinas.
“It’s the strongest team in Thailand where we need to win every game. Whenever we draw, it's like a loss at this club.”
At the highest level of continental football — the AFC Champions League Elite, Buriram have flourished beating the likes of Australia’s Central Coast Mariners and Korea Republic duo Pohang Steelers and Ulsan HD before getting the better off ASEAN rivals Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) in the Round of 16.
They finished sixth in the League Stage before getting the job done in a tightly contested knockout stage clash, all of this while managing their domestic football exertions along the way.
“The schedule is just so hard. We’ve matches every two to three days. So, we also need to manage our bodies. It’s a different feeling when we qualified for the quarter-finals of the Champions League,” shared Tabinas.
“We’ve proved that we are not only good in Thailand but outside as well. When we started the season we set the goal of trying to win every competition and it’s amazing that we can still chase that goal.”
The match against JDT in particular was an intriguing affair with both teams sharing similar ambitions on the continental level. After a goalless first leg at the Thunder Castle, where Buriram squandered several opportunities, they faced the difficult task of having to beat their rivals in Malaysia.
However, Osmar Loss’ troops weren’t unfazed by the challenge as Suphanat Mueanta scored a brilliant goal in the 58th minute to see them over the line in front of almost 35,000 fans at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Johor Bahru.
“It was the biggest game in Southeast Asia. Both teams spent a lot of money on their players and also the facility,” said Tabinas, who had come off the bench to help his side see off the 1-0 win in the second leg.
“To be honest, I was surprised when I went to the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium for the first time. No one will expect a stadium like that in Southeast Asia. It’s the best stadium I’ve played in. I also enjoy playing at the Thunder Castle, which is the best stadium in Thailand. In the end, I’m happy the result in the match went in our favour despite such a tight schedule.”
Having the goal to reach the top only comes to fruition after overcoming tough challenges and next up for Buriram is a trip to Saudi Arabia where they face the daunting proposition of taking on home side Al Ahli Saudi FC in a single leg knockout quarter-final at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah.
Al Ahli are the only unbeaten club in this season’s AFC Champions League Elite and brushed aside Qatar’s Al Rayyan 5-1 on aggregate in the Round of 16.
The Saudi Pro League side boasts several global stars in their ranks, including Riyad Mahrez, Roberto Firmino, Edouard Mendy, Franck Kessie and Ivan Toney.
“It would be great to go up against someone like (Riyad) Mahrez, a big-name player who has had experience playing at the highest level of European football. I want to know the gap between us so that one day I can strive to reach that level,” revealed a determined Tabinas.
With the knockout stage of the AFC Champions League Elite to take place in the centralized venue of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, Buriram will hope to go further in the competition in what is set to be their first quarter-final appearance since 2013.
It will soon be followed by the club attempting to achieve glory in another international club competition, the Shopee Cup where Buriram hold a 3-1 advantage heading into the second leg of their semi-final against Thai League 1 rivals BG Pathum United.
The Rabbits beat Buriram in the league following that defeat with the Thunder Castle hoping to have the last laugh when both sides square off in an eagerly anticipated clash at the BG Stadium on Wednesday, May 7.
Tokyo-born Filipino international Tabinas, who has one goal and two assists in the Shopee Cup, had an interesting take revealing his thoughts on the approach Buriram would take despite holding a two-goal lead for that match in Pathum Thani.
“We recently watched Real Madrid vs Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals with Arsenal already leading 3-0 and then having to play away from home,” said the 26-year-old.
“Arsenal actually forgot what happened in the first leg and then they just tried to focus on the second leg as a standalone match. And in the end, they had a great result.”
“I think we at Buriram will try to follow the exact same approach for the second leg against BG Pathum United.”
Playing at major international football competitions also comes with a greater responsibility with Tabinas one of only two Philippines internationals at the highest level of Asian club football, with the other being his Buriram teammate Neil Etheridge.
As such, performing well for his club garners interest back home where it can lead to significant positive steps.
Tabinas, who has earned 21 international caps for his nation, was also on target in their most recent fixture — a 4-1 triumph against the Maldives in the opening match of the qualifiers for the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027.
The Filipinos are now aiming to return amongst the continent’s elite following their recent resurgence in the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup™ 2024 where they went on to reach the semi-finals.
“After the new management has come in, they are having a good organisation and are providing the players with all the professional facilities. This gives the players a lot of confidence and with better results helps in eventually building a beautiful football culture,” quipped Tabinas, who had made his senior international debut against China PR in 2021.
“Basketball, Volleyball and Boxing are the biggest sports in the Philippines. The Philippines Football League needs to improve a lot. Currently, the league isn’t that stable and in order for the national team to do well it is important to produce good local players through the league system.”
“Having said that, if we can manage to qualify for the AFC Asian Cup 2027, Filipino football will be much, much better and more people will come to watch the team in the stadium.”
Off the pitch, Tabinas is a fun personality who is active on Instagram and X and also loves vlogging on his personal YouTube channel.
Amidst all the pressure that comes with being a professional footballer, it is also important to enjoy life as it passes by and the former Gamba Osaka youth team and Mito HollyHock player is doing exactly that at this stage in his career.
“When I was playing in the J.League, I was initially posting things on Instagram and X. But then my hobby is camera stuff and editing and everyone there doesn’t really know about Southeast Asia. So, when I used to come to play for the Philippines national team, I wanted to show everyone in Japan what it is like here.”
“Then I joined Buriram and started posting more things on YouTube and everyone liked watching it. This is just a hobby that I love and I am also killing my time through it,” signed off a beaming Tabinas.
With Buriram having landed in Jeddah on Thursday, Tabinas & Co. will have their eyes firmly fixed on the prize on offer in what could eventually turn out to be a historic season for the Thai club.
Share now
