POLITICS

Apirak levels score in footie fever battle

SUPOJ WANCHAROEN

Football appears to have become a new political tool in the run-up to the Dec 23 general election with two rival camps planning to build football schools in association with English clubs.

Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin, a Democrat deputy leader, announced yesterday that the city administration would build a football school run by Premier League side Everton.

The move came just days after Manchester City, owned by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, signed three Thai players and unveiled a plan for a football academy here on Friday.

Mr Apirak's project is seen as a political attempt by the Democrats to counter Mr Thaksin, who is linked to the People Power party (PPP), the Democrat party's main rival.

Mr Apirak dismissed suggestions that the scheme was initiated for political reasons. ''This is not to silence Manchester City fever,'' he said.

Mr Apirak said the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) wanted to build a football school for children, to be supervised by Finch Farm, the football academy run by Everton.

Finch Farm director Ray Hall has agreed to help the BMA in its football development project.

The club and the BMA will work out the details this year, he said.

Deputy governor Bhuddhipongse Punnakanta, also a Democrat, said the issue had earlier been raised during Mr Apirak's Nov 12-15 visit to London and Liverpool.

The governor and the two cities had reached cooperation agreements which included footballing ties, he said.

 

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