Known as the Southern Dragons, Nakhonsi United Football Club is a professional Thai football team based in Nakhon Si Thammarat. The club which was founded in 2014 represents the South in Thai League 2 and holds strong regional pride.
Having recently been acquired by Australian football professional Tony Basha, the club is entering a new era with a vision to transform the Southern Dragons from a strong local team into a national contender. With fresh investments and a global footballing perspective, the goal is to enter the Thai League 1 in the next two seasons.
With more than 20 years of experience in youth development and club management, Tony Basha brings international expertise as the new owner of Nakhonsi United Football Club. Formerly Sporting Director at the Australian Soccer Academy and coach at top Australian clubs, he aims to build a sustainable, long-term foundation.
His vision includes creating a strong youth academy, nurturing local talent, and integrating a modern European playing style while honoring Thai culture. The goal is to elevate club performance and open international pathways for Thai players. The club is also offering sponsorship opportunities, including main sponsors, co-sponsors, official suppliers, and media partners.
The new developments at Nakhonsi United Football Club come at an opportune time for football in Thailand and wider Asia. Football sponsorship in Asia has grown by 73 percent over the past decade, driven by sectors such as technology, retail, and gambling. Football remains Asia’s leading sports sponsorship platform, attracting 29 percent of all sports sponsorship spending—well ahead of motorsport at 12 percent.
Tony Basha’s vision for Nakhonsi United Football Club focuses on long-term sustainability rather than quick fixes. His strategic blueprint includes expanding the club’s youth academy, improving coaching systems, and building on existing strengths. By blending modern European football methods with a deep respect for Thai football culture, Tony aims to create a solid foundation that nurtures homegrown talent, excites fans, and attracts sponsors who value stability and growth.
The Sponsorship Experts, Paul Poole (South East Asia) Co., Ltd.
will be managing sponsorship and partnership marketing for Nakhonsi United Football Club 2025/2026. We have a number of commercial sponsorship and partnership opportunities available for brands and businesses wanting to integrate with this exciting football club as well as many other opportunities to create bespoke events for your brand or business.
Paul Poole (South East Asia) Co., Ltd. is an independent marketing consultancy based in Bangkok, Thailand specialising in commercial sponsorship and partnership marketing, working with both rights holders and brands - acting as a catalyst by bringing them together and maximising the relationship.
We have packaged, sold and managed sponsorship and partnership opportunities for a wide range of rights holders and worked with many of the world’s leading brands to source and engage the right sponsorships and partnerships for them to maximise.
