Honda opens door to Man U, LFC academies for talented young Thai footballers
The Kingdom's top young soccer talents are once again being offered a path to future stardom via AP Honda's "Honda Red Champion" project.
The bike-maker has displayed its strong commitment in nurturing Thai football at grassroots level by joining hands with the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) for the project’s third year.
The project gives talents aged under 18 from five regions the chance to train at Manchester United and Liverpool academies in England. Honda is the official partner of both English clubs.
This year the selection criteria have been adjusted to encourage participants to develop basic skills, which are the foundation to becoming a professional player. The event will kick off in August at participating Honda dealers (Honda Wing Centres), while the regional round will be held in November. Winning teams from each of the country’s five regions will experience the ultimate soccer training programme in England early next year.
“We are ready to host the third year of ‘Obec- Honda Red Champion’ to seek best youngsters, coaches and staff from five regions, to train at Man U and Liverpool’s soccer schools. They will also get the chance to watch a league match involving one of the two clubs.
“Honda wants to develop the footballing skills of young Thais. Our effort is being supported by the Office of the Basic Education Commission, the Sports Authority of Thailand and Honda’s dealers around the country. They help us promote the activity in schools around the country to ensure that students in remote areas are given an equal chance of taking part,” said AP Honda director Suchart Arunsaengroj.
“We have adjusted the selection criteria to ensure that participants are equipped with excellent basic skills, which they can then develop in learning how to play as a team during the final round.
“This system will ensure that the winners of “Obec – Honda Red Champion” are the best young players available and that they deserve the chance to train at Manchester United and Liverpool. This is a unique opportunity for Thai youths to learn from these prestigious clubs, which have produced countless world-class players. It will be a valuable experience and inspiration for them to develop on the path to potentially becoming professional footballers,” said Suchart.
Application forms for “Obec – AP Honda Red Champion” will be available at participating Honda Wing Centres nationwide in July. The preliminary selection will be staged in August at dealer outlets, and the winning teams will compete in the regional phase in November. For updates, visit www.facebook.com/HondaRedChampion or www.facebook.com/hondamotorcyclethailand.
