KUALA LUMPUR – Hoping to break more regularly into the national under-23 squad, footballer Annil Vigneswaran has taken a bold step closer to home by joining Thai League 2 side Nakhon Si United.
The 22-year-old from Kajang, Selangor, who previously played in Germany with Freiburger II and Waldhof Mannheim, believes the move offers the platform he needs to develop further.
His decision came after weighing options with several Malaysian clubs and even a short training stint in Brunei, but the chance to sign for Nakhon Si United – ninth in last season’s standings – proved too good to refuse.
Speaking to Scoop, Annil described the move as both a challenge and a stepping stone.
“I’ve always wanted to step out of my comfort zone and learn something new. Thailand has been a dominant force in Southeast Asian football for some time, so playing here will definitely help me grow.
“It’s been two weeks since I joined, and I’ve been adapting to the lifestyle, getting to know my teammates, and learning the Thai language.
“Many of the players here are also part of Thailand’s under-23 squad. I plan to learn from them, improve where I can, and hopefully prove myself worthy of the Harimau Muda radar,” he said.
Standing at 1.86m, Annil is a commanding presence capable of operating both as a centre-back and a defensive midfielder.
The youth international has already made four appearances for Malaysia’s under-23 side, but his ambitions reach further.
“I’ve been included in the squad for this week’s league match against Pattaya United, and I’m determined to make an impact.
“My aim is to help the team push for promotion to Thai League 1, fight for an Asian Champions League spot, and increase my Harimau Muda caps over the next year,” he added.
Nakhon Si United have started brightly, sitting top of Thai League 2 with six points from their opening two matches. – August 26, 2025