The Sandpit Readers’ 2019 Port FC Player of the Year: Nitipong Selanon!

The votes have been counted and we’re delighted to reveal that, after wins for David Rochela (2016-17) and Sergio Suarez (2018), we have our first ever Thai winner of The Sandpit’s Player of the Year award – right-back Nitipong Selanon! Niti won by a big margin, getting 37% of the vote, with Go Seul-Ki second on 13%, & Suarez third on 12%.

In my opinion, no player deserves it more. Whenever we interview Port players/staff we ask them which player at the club is the hardest worker on the pitch and in training, and the answer is always ‘Nitipong!’. His progress in the last few years has been remarkable, going from second choice T2 right-back to FA Cup winner and Thai national team starter, and – at just 26 and with his level of dedication – his best is almost certainly yet to come. He never lets the team down, never has a bad game, and – unusually for a defender – rarely ever gets booked, such is his ability to read the game.

Congratulations Niti!

Tim Russell

The founder and editor of The Sandpit, Tim has been in SE Asia since 2003 and in Bangkok since 2012, where he runs a travel tech business. Tim has followed Port FC since 2014, and is also a fan of his hometown club Coventry City, and French club AS St-Etienne. He has written for the likes of Football365, ITV.com, NME and The Quietus, and is a regular contributor to God Is In the TV. He's a keen photographer and his work can be seen on his website.