METRO
Young boys in Bangkok who love football are getting the chance to learn the game properly with some leading Thai and English coaches, writes Supoj Wancharoen
Eleven-year-old Tawan Klorlamai had no hesitation when asked which footballer he idolised - "Ronaldinho, of course," he said.
Sorawit Nimcharoenrot, 14, says his football idol is Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United.Both boys, who live in Bangkok, are among the 1,200 children who have joined the Bangkok Football Academy (BFA), a project run by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) which is aimed at grooming homegrown football stars.
Launched last year by Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin, the project is supervised by local football star Kiatisak "Zico" Senamuang, who is also the academy's director. Most of the coaches - there are a total of 30 - are former members of the Thai national team.
Each year the project accepts 1,200 boys aged 7-15 from more than 2,000 applications. The boys are divided into two groups. Each attends a 15-day training course, designed by Kiatisak and his team at the BMA's Thai-Japanese youth centre in Din Daeng. The training takes place daily from 9am-noon during the school break, and from April 1-18 for the first group and April 21-May 7 for the second.
Each boy learns basic footballing skills like passing, dribbling and heading, as well as skipping, controlling the ball and shooting techniques similar to that provided by leading football clubs.
 |
| Children practise their skills at a football clinic at the Thai-Japanese youth centre, run by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to develop young footballers. Photos by PATTANAPONG HIRUNARD |
 |
| Football star Kiatisak Senamuang talks to a football academy coach from English Premier League club Everton during a BMA-run football clinic. |
 |
| Children show their skills with a football during the BMA project, which runs until Wednesday. |
 |
| A mother helps her child who is taking a break from practice. |
At the end of the course 240 of the boys get selected for advanced training and 30 of those get picked to join the BFA team.
This year's training has been special because four coaches from English Premier League club Everton have been involved under a programme arranged between the BMA and the club, which is aimed at lifting the standards of football in Thailand.
Apart from receiving training from English coaches, 18 of the trainees with outstanding skills will get a special reward - a trip to Everton's training ground Finch Farm, where further training will be given by English coaches this month.
Tawan said attending the BFA course has been good fun.
"I have a lot of new friends who have the same passion for the game. We are trained by experts with knowledge and experience," said the boy, who started playing football at the age of six.
"They are among those I've seen in TV broadcasts of the Premier League," he said.
Tawan also talked about his dream of becoming a professional football player, and said he had been inspired by 28-year-old Brazilian star Ronaldinho, who started to show his talent at the age of 13.
"I don't know if I can make my dream come true," he said.
Wanna, Tawan's mother, said the BFA project is excellent as it lets the youngsters make full use of their school break constructively. It also allows young boys with a strong interest in football to follow their dreams, she said.
"The BMA provides everything from a uniform and accessories to lunch. We, the parents, merely take care of transportation costs," she said.
Bangkok deputy governor Budhipongse Punnakanta said the project is not only aimed at producing football stars, but also at turning them into decent young citizens.
"The training is not just about playing techniques. They are trained to play in good spirit and with manners."
According to Mr Budhipongse, the BMA forks out a total of two million baht each year for the project, which he said is cost-effective.
"This is the right way to promote football in the country. If we train them from a young age we may have many young talents for our team in the future," he said.
The deputy governor said the BMA is considering making the project permanent, with a regular annual budget.
Kiatisak said it is too early to talk about a Thai team going to the World Cup.
"Let's start by training our kids," he said.
For a Thai team to qualify for the World Cup it will require concrete and strong support from the state to develop the game here, said Kiatisak.
"Even though Thais may be at a disadvantage with our small bodies, we can be trained to be tough, talented and to have the skills. We may also have to pay attention to medical science to help [young people to develop physically]," he said.
Prev
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Next
