CP to select young talented football players

The event will select 20 young football talents across the nation to join in a professional training, along with awarded free high school enrollments. At least 6,000 youngsters are expected to participate in the program and the first qualifying round will begin in Nakhon Ratchasima province on December 2.

Abhaichon Vacharasinthu, Vice President Corporate Relations and Coordination Charoen Pokphand Group Co.,Ltd, says of the “Just Believe in Your Dream: the 2nd Grooming Youths to Professional Football Club” project that “Charoen Pokphand Group realizes the importance of Thai youths, who are fond of football and have excellent skills, but lack of opportunity and encouragement. Then we have teamed up with our strategic partners to continue the “Just Believe in Your Dream: the 2nd Grooming Youths to Professional Football Club” project for second year in order to open the door for them to pursue their dreams. The project will select 20 youths, born between 1January 2006 and 31 December 2007, with excellent football skills to join in a program on professional training with BUFC Academy - Bangkok United Football Club. Educationally, they will be supported by Charoen Pokphand Group, which provides scholarship to study at the high school level of Grade 7-12 at Bangkok Christian College throughout the program. The project is part of producing and training Thai capable footballers to become professional, leading them to go international sustainably.  At least 6,000 youngsters are expected to participate in the qualifying session, which will be held at 10 provinces in 4 regions nationwide.”

Kajorn Chearavanont, Group Executive Director, Corporate Affairs, True Corporation Plc and Chairman of Bangkok United F.C., says, “We are delighted and proud to bring our knowledge and professional football skills for those selected youths aged 11-12, who are proper to play because they are opened-mind to accept the training and commitment as football fundamental. As the result, they will get a chance to progress their skills professionally. The 20 qualified players will be trained by BUFC Academy’s coaches, led by Mr. Ernst Middendorp and Mr. Daniele Invincibile. Moreover, they will have a chance to compete with local and overseas team in order to fulfill their experience and increase their potential, leading to readiness in starting their professional football career at the age of around 18. Hopefully, all youths will have a chance to move their dream ahead on the road of professional football career with both the country’s leading and overseas football clubs, as well as helping build Thailand’s reputation in the global football level.

Dr. Banchong Chompoowong, Deputy Director of Special Projects Bangkok Christian College, says, “Our school is committed to providing both academic and football skills development to  20 qualified players so that they will become professional footballers in the future.  Bangkok Christian College has had a long experience in training footballers at the young age and also an institute to groom footballers to be qualified as players of Thai national team and professional footballers.

“Ping” Kiattiphmu Sripon, a 14-year-old boy from Mahasarakham, is a member of the first generation of “Just Believe in Your Dream: the Grooming Youths to Professional Football Club” project and currently studying Grade 9 at Bangkok Christian College says, “I study and get trained football skills hard at the same time. I’ve spend time on training for two hours after school, and on the first half of Saturday. However, I have never given up because I feel very lucky to get this chance to pursue my dream of becoming a professional footballer. My life changed a lot in the past year and my football skills improved, too. Furthermore, I have gained experience from local and international competition, especially in Norway with the Norway Cup, proud of the team victory with the first runner up.This forces me to improve myself, in particular physically, in order to compete with foreign ones who have more physical strength. Beyond this, I will have to boost my strength and a lot of skills.   

“Tae” Worawit Suwanmal, a 12-year-old boy from Rayong and also a member of the first generation of “Just Believe in Your Dream: the Grooming Youths to Professional Football Club” project and studying Grade 7 at Bangkok Christian College, says “The program has taught me about how to become professional footballer, along with the importance of education. I’ve trained hard and be patient, self-disciplined, obedient and with high responsibility. The most valuable experience for me is get a chance to participate in a competition in China, where I learned that there are many talented players in the football world. Then I can’t rule out this trend, instead putting more commitment in improving my skills to turn my dream on professional footballer into reality.

The “Just Believe in Your Dream: the 2nd Grooming Youths to Professional Football Club” project will start with the first qualifying round at10 stadiums in provinces nationwide, with the first at Nakhon Ratchasima Province on 2 December, followed by Kanchanaburi on 9December, Chachoengsao on 11 December, Phitsanulok on 16 December, Bangkok on 23 December, Roi Et on 6 January 2018, Chiang Mai on 16 January, Khon Kaen on 20 January, Hat Yai on 27 January, and Surat Thani on 3 February.

Bangkok United’s coaches, led by Mr. Ernst Middendorp and Mr. Daniele Invincibile, and Bangkok Christian College’s coaches, led by Boonlert Kiataium, will work with them in the selection process. On the day of the selection process, it will start in the morning with participation from the children to test in four football skills in each station, which include juggling, dribbling & speed, shooting and passing & speed in order to collect points as many as possible. Those with qualified scores will get through to the afternoon session. Then, they will be divided into teams, with each of seven people to play in real matches. Each match lasts 15 minutes. All qualified youngsters will join in the camp in Bangkok for the final round of selection in February 2018. Only the top 20 of them will be selected.

The 20 selected youths in the “Just Believe in Your Dream: the 2nd Grooming Youths to Professional Football Club” project will awarded free high school enrollments of Grade 7-12 at Bangkok Christian College, which are sponsored by CP. They will also be trained professionally by BUFC Academy and Bangkok Christian College, with high standard program. The project will give importance to their skill improvement and physical and mental strength to get ready to be professional footballers at the age of 18, together with academic development, leading to a success path to be professional footballers with locally and internationally-recognized football clubs in the future, which depends on individual competency.

The program is open for male youths, who were born in 2006-2007 and get an official permission from their parents to participate in. Those interested can apply at www.cp-dreams.com or https://www.facebook.com/CPDream/, or at the 10 stadiums before the morning qualifying session starts at 09.00. For more information, please call 02-766-8472, 02-766-7341 on Monday-Friday at 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.