Bobotoh Jakarta

It’s not just Singapore which must worry about top talent fleeing to play elsewhere in Southeast Asia.

Three Thai players joined the growing ranks of Asian talent plying its trade in the Indonesian Super League. Thailand international goalkeeper Sinthaveechai “Kosin” Hathairattanakool and midfielder Suchao Nutnum signed with Persib Bandung, and Persisam Samarinda added Pipat Thonkanya.

“We have agreed to a one-year deal with both players and they will come to Bandung on Nov. 5,” Persib manager Umuh Muhtar said.

“But they will go back to Thailand on Nov. 10 to join their national team training camp before the 2011 Asian Cup qualifiers.”

In another deal before the Friday night transfer deadline, Persebaya Surabaya signed Takatoshi Uchida from Albirex Niigata Singapore.

Sinthaveechai and Suchao had just helped new Thailand coach Bryan Robson win his first trophy. The Thais defeated Vietnamese club Hoang Anh Gia Lai in the Kata Cup final in Phuket on Thursday, winning 7-6 on penalty kicks after a 2-2 draw.

Thailand visits Singapore on Nov. 14 in qualifying for the 2011 Asian Cup before hosting Singapore in Bangkok on Nov. 18.

Umuh said Sinthaveechai and Suchao would be back at Persib on Nov. 19 and would likely make their debut against Pelita Jaya two days later.

“I can relax a bit now because we have a complete squad and I’ve managed to find players who suit the coach’s needs,” he said.

Persib, which lost its first two league matches, was in dire need of a goalkeeper after Tema Mursadat suffered a right knee injury in September and was sidelined until late December. Coach Jaya Hartono also asked for a midfielder as the team lacked a playmaker after Lorenzo Cabanas left the club to return to Paraguay.

Persisam, struggling in the top flight with one win in four matches after winning the Premier Division last season, pinned its hopes of survival on Rp 1.2 billion ($125,852) striker Pipat. He trained with his new club for the first time on Wednesday after helping Thai Port win the Thai FA Cup, converting the winning spot kick to beat BEC Tero Sasana 5-4 in a shootout.

“We badly need a good striker and I believe Pipat is a great addition to the club,” Persisam coach Aji Santoso told state-run news agency Antara. “He will need time to adapt with the team, but I think it won’t be long.”

Aji said Pipat, who scored 10 goals in the Thai Premier League last season, would likely make his debut at Persela Lamongan on Wednesday.

The Thai trio joins countryman Phaitoon Thiabma, a midfielder with Persijap Jepara, in swelling the ranks of Asean players in Indonesia.

Persebaya signed Uchida after the Albirex Niigata Singapore captain trained with the club for four days and played two practice matches.

Coach Danurwindo said he was not sure of the Japanese defender’s skill, “But I think he will bolster our defense. He has leadership qualities and can communicate well with other players.”

Terms of the deal were undisclosed, and assistant manager Cholid Goromah would only say the amount “is not that expensive.”