Leicester take 7-year-old phenom under their wing

BANGKOK — Leicester City Football Club, owned by Thai billionaire Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, have offered to support a seven-year-old boy who demonstrated extraordinary kicking skills on television, kicking a ball to hit the crossbar three times in a row.

The boy, who is known only as Suvin, or Nong Pee, became a star after his appearance on a variety show aired on Jan 7. Several football clubs have expressed an interest in grooming him, and the video of him in action has drawn millions of views since it was uploaded on the Facebook page of Thai media company Workpoint Entertainment.

At a press conference announcing support for the youngster on his road to professional football, Mr Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, deputy chairman of Leicester City Football Club, said he would support Nong Pee’s education and training.

Mr Aiyawatt was accompanied by Thailand’s national football coach, Kiatisuk Senamuang, who is the brand ambassador for Leicester City International Academy, and Mr Sombat Leekumnerdthai, who runs the Inter Thailand Academy, where the boy is trained.

Mr Aiyawatt said the club would begin supporting Nong Pee’s studies at an appropriate school, either in Thailand or abroad. While he is in Thailand, Leicester will send a coach to help him.

“As he is only seven, he is like a white cloth that will open fully to accept all input. We want him to grow in the right direction with the most efficiency,” Mr Aiyawatt said, adding that Nong Pee was likely to stay in Thailand for another year or two before going to England.

He estimated it would cost 30-40 million baht (S$1.2-S$1.6 million) to groom the boy to be a professional footballer, based on the cost of the club’s Fox Hunt project, which spent around 15 million baht to groom a 15-year-old as a professional.

The young lefty, whose idol is Barcelona striker Lionel Messi, wants to play for Thailand even though he does not have Thai nationality yet. Nong Pee was born a Mon, an ethnic group that migrated to Thailand from Myanmar.

Mr Aiyawatt said Nong Pee is clear he wants to represent Thailand, but he can choose when he turns 18. “I promise to pay attention during training. I want to play for the Thai national team,” Nong Pee said at the press conference.

Mr Aiyawatt said the club would also support other talented Thai youths with the determination to excel in the sport.

“It is a big opportunity for Nong Pee — the kind of opportunity that has not happened in the past,” said coach Kiatisuk. BANGKOK POST