EPL training stints up for grabs
Talented young Thai footballers have been handed an opportunity to train at English clubs Manchester United and Liverpool, with the launch of "The 4th Red Champion" project run by AP Honda and the Office of the Basic Education Commission.
With the aim of encouraging youngsters to pay more attention to basic soccer skills, AP Honda has revised its criteria to find the best team from each of the country’s five regions.
“The OBEC-AP Honda Red Champion has inspired thousands of young football players in Thailand. We’re delighted to see many enter professional football in the past three years.
“Many young talents have shown interest in practising basic football skills to enter our competition. AP Honda has thus changed our criteria to promote basic skills which reflect the true ability of a football player.
“This year, we add the ‘warm-up’ station for young players to learn how to train like professionals. They’ll understand how we adopt sport science as part of training.
“The 4th Red Champion will focus fully on tests of basic skills such as dribbling, juggling the ball and passing,” said Suchart Arunsaengroj, AP Honda managing director.
Honda dealers across the country will join hands with local schools to find a team to represent them in the regional round. Each team must comprise seven players aged between 13 and 18, a coach, a Honda dealer and the school director.
The qualifying round to find a team to represent each participating dealer will take place between August and September. The competition will then be held in the five regions between October and December.
The five regional winners will earn the chance to take part in a short training stint at either Manchester United or Liverpool next year.
