Spotlight

Having a ball

By Suwitcha Chaiyong

Thai teens get their kicks in Manchester

Best	Meeting Sven Goran Eriksson.
Watching Manchester City vs Fulham.	Pong

A group of young Thai football fans recently had the experience of a lifetime visiting the UK with a programme called Thai Kids to Manchester City arranged by the Thaicom Foundation.

• Did you know •

Craig Gordon became the highest paid British goal keeper when he was transferred to the Sunderland team for £9 million (630 million baht).

Out of 2,000 hopefuls, 15 teens were given the opportunity to improve their soccer skills as part of the programme. Two of the participants � Pongphon Charoenpitakporn (Pong), 15, and Pisitsart Ksueanuan (Best), 16 � are fans of Manchester United, but they were more than happy to visit the Manchester City team for the eye-opening, 10-day event.

WINNING GAMES

In Manchester City, two matches were held between the Thai squad and English school teams from Saint Thomas Moore and Two Tree Sport College. The Thais won both games, scoring 3-2 and 6-0 respectively. Pong and Best were happy and surprised with the result.

�It made us wonder why the Thai national team can�t beat the English team, � Best said.

FANTASTIC FACILITIES

During their visit to a Manchester City training session, the guys were impressed with the facilities available to professional players.

�Manchester City�s dressing room was really well organised,� Best said. �I saw player Elano Blumer�s locker, and he had five pairs of shoes to choose from for each game.�

Pong and Best also noticed that the team take training very seriously.

�They�re very strict, even limiting the time they spend changing clothes,� Pong said. �When they practise, they never smile or joke around.�

ON THE FIELD

After having watched so many Premier League games on TV, the guys were pretty excited to see a match played live.

�We saw Manchester City play Fulham,� Pong said. �It was so great to see a Premier game at a stadium and to watch the coach direct the players.�

Meeting team owner Taksin Shinawatra.

Best noticed that British people enthusiastically support their favourite teams.

�I saw parents take their kids to the match and teach them to cheer for their teams,� he said. �It�s great the way they encourage kids to love football and support the players.�

The guys even met some of their favourite stars, with Pong acquiring coach Sven Goran Eriksson�s autograph.

SHARING SKILLS

Since returning home, the guys have been able to share the winning techniques they learned with their Thai teammates.

�We learned skills for speed and passing the ball, as well as techniques for carrying the ball with our chest and legs,� Pong said. �We teach our teammates these techniques during practise, and it improves our team.�

	hopeful (n): a person who wants to succeed in something eye-opening (adj): an event or experience that is surprising and shows you something that you did not know squad (n): (in sport) a group of players from which a team is chosen for a particular match respectively (adv): in the same order as the people or things already mentioned facilities (n): the buildings, services and equipment that are provided for a particular purpose strict (adj): demanding that rules should be obeyed enthusiastically (adv): doing something with a lot of interest and excitement cheer (v): to shout loudly to show support or praise for somebody or to give them encouragement acquire (v): to gain something by buying or being given it IDIOM experience of a lifetime: a wonderful opportunity, etc. that you are not likely to get again