CONNECTED*
ROAD TO STARDOM JU LY 2 0 1 1
HORIZON
ROAD TO STARDOM
CONNECTED*
ROAD TO STARDOM
FOREWORD At the behest of the Mr. Newin Chidchob, the Management of BURIRAM ACADEMY and the KING POWER GROUP, ROAD TO STARDOM was a 72-hour football-inspired voyage of discovery to Thailand from the 24th -26th of June 2011 organized by HORIZON to support the “connection” of the continents of Asia, Europe and Africa through the medium of football. As owner of BURIRAM PEA FC, Mr Chidchob and his associates recently embarked on one of the most exciting projects in global football in a bid to inject new
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synergy into the Beautiful Game on three continents. Through their affiliations with clubs in Thailand, the UK and Spain as well as the subSahara Africa talent-recruitment platform of RAINBOW SPORTS, the BURIRAM ACADEMY is set to be an unparalleled force in world football. THE ROAD TO STARDOM is a unique opportunity for a selection of interested parties to examine, firsthand and up-close, the finer details of this novel and dynamic approach to the development of young talent.
ITINERARY 23 June/Thursday
- Fly out of London at 9:30pm
24 June/Friday -
Arrive at BKK at 3:05pm Welcome Drink at Hotel 1630 Visit King Power 1730 Dinner Party 1915
25 June/Saturday -
Breakfast 0800 Press Meet 0930 Visit to Royal Palace and Siriraj Hospital 1000 City Tour by Boat 1100 Lunch at Oriental Hotel 1300 City Tour 1500 Dinner 2000
26 June/Sunday -
Breakfast 0900 Departure for Buriram by plane 1100 Arrival at Burriram Airport 1200 Private Tour of Academy Fcilities1300 Lunch at i-Mobile Stadium 1300 Press Conference 1400 Coaching Clinic 1500 Football Match Buriram v Chainat 1800 Departure for Bangkok 2100 Dinner at DeJa Vu 2230
27 June/Monday -
Breakfast 0900 Fly back to London 11:10 Arrive at London Heathrow at 17:15pm
AIRLINE: EVA AIR HOTEL: PULLMAN KING HOTEL, BANGKOK
DAY1
ARRIVAL
KING POWER GROUP HQ
Sebastien Bassong
Having scored the winning goal against Liverpool on his debut in the opening game of the 2009-10 Season, the strong-tackling defender went on to help Tottenham Hotspurs qualify for their maiden UEFA Champions League campaign. He earned the distinction of becoming the first Spurs player to ever score a Champions League goal. The free-scoring defender is amongst a handful of young, gifted and exciting talent who are set to lead world football from the back.
FIRST IMPRESSION SEBASTIEN BASSONG Pre-conceptions can truly be a barrier to growth, but it’s sweeter to have them challenged. Arriving in Bangkok was just that!!! From our welcome as we came off the plane to the cold coca cola I was served in the VIP waiting room, not to mention the flower garlands the Buriram CEO placed on our necks and the excited crowd waiting outside the lounge as we made our way to the car!!!. Wow! It felt like love at first sight. Not only was the airport better than anything I had imagined but all the people we were meeting were so warm. I hadn’t realized Spurs had such appeal in Asia!!!
But even that warmth was nothing compared to the temperature outside. Hot would be an understatement! It felt like I was in the North of Cameroon and those who know me know I don’t do so well in Garoua! But we had these cool people carriers with reclining seats that let you admire the funky arty displays on the car ceilings… Very strange but I think the TKO guys liked it. Added to that we had police escorts who ensured we were able to weave our way through the crazy traffic! I mean, everywhere you looked there were cars, pink taxis, blue taxis, weird painted buses and trucks! The share volume of cars on the roads was something I have never seen before and I
NS use London’s M25 sometimes. Then we got to the hotel and even that was mind-boggling! I mean, I never thought Thailand would have a cool hang-out like this and again everyone was so warm, so polite it was all really amazing…but it made me think… How great is it when first impressions make you question prejudices!!! As a young African and also as a footballer I am very used to people having their preconceptions of what and who I am supposed to be… so today feels really special. Here I am in Thailand and four hours into my trip all I can think of is just how important it is to be open to new experiences, to be willing to see new things, learn about new cultures
and most importantly accept that the world in which we live is way too big for us to close ourselves to the numerous alternatives that exist. They call this part of the world the Far East but again I am forced to ask: far from what? East of where? To the people I am seeing and meeting this land is the centre of the world. Everyone’s home is the centre of their world and as far as I can see, I am in the capital city of a nation I am told translates as “Freeland” as “thai” means “free” and at the very least it invites us to free ourselves of pre-conceptions.
DINNER
DAY2
ROYAL HOSPITAL V
VISIT
PETER OSAZE ODEMWINGIE
Early rises are not my thing, especially having just done a 12 hour flight from London and that after a 10 hour flight from Miami. However, it didn’t feel so tough this morning and I guess it was because I felt excited. Excited to see more of what we had tasted yesterday. And as I share my thoughts at the end of the day, I still don’t feel tired, a bit like a kid on Christmas eve…strange! Today took us to the Royal Hospital to pay our respects to his Royal Highness the King of Thailand who is unwell at present. I don’t know exactly why, but I felt a great sense of connection to the ceremony and part of me puts it down to the culture with which I was raised in Nigeria, where we hold great regard for our guardians of tradition. There’s something very rich and enriching about cultures that celebrate their Leaders and I think my colleagues and I all really took a shine to this part of the day.
From the Hospital we went on to visit the Grand Palace as well as doing a River Tour of the City. Now, I am no culture of history expert but it truly is humbling to see a people whose history goes so far back. Maybe I should know more about Thailand and other parts of the world but I don’t know as much as I should, but being here and having the opportunity to witness and learn first hand the story that is Thailand has me entire being excited. The sights, the sounds, and smells are empowering in a very bizarre way but it feels like just being here is a first step in a new journey. I have lived in numerous countries including Russia, Belgium, France, Nigeria and of course the UK, but there’s something different about the little taste of Thailand I have had over these two days. The difference is good though… It feels like you are in a land
that is beginning to assert its rightful place on the international scene. My world is football and I see posters saying Chelsea are due here soon, I see Manchester United posters everywhere and someone tells me they are due here next summer. My friend who I bump into here, is doing trials at a local team and he is excited about the quality of the local game and the ambition of the games stewards here. I get the distinct feeling tomorrow I will get the opportunity to size up a part of that ambition when we get to Buriram. I already feel privileged to be involved at this early stage but more importantly I get this sensation there could be a new dawn for our sport in the East.
Peter Odemwingie
Voted “African Player of the Season 2010/2011� with his 15 goals in his first full season at West Bromwhich Albion making him the English Premier League’s highest scoring African player and fifth overall highest goal scorer. A versatile striker who is just as comfortable down the wings as he is through the middle with a amazing eye for goal and outstanding first touch.
SIGHT-SEEING TOUR
DAY3
AIRPORT
BANGKOK TO BURRIRAM
THE ACADEMY
THE I-MOBILE STADIUM
COACHING
THE GAME
NEWIN CHIDCHOB THE BURIRAM ACADEMY NEWIN CHIDCHOB Who are the key partners in the Academy and what are their specific roles? The Academy is owned by BURIRAM PEA FC and BURIRAM FC I see the Academy as the
cornerstone of our contribution to the development of Thai football and most importantly as a positive addition to world football. Our Managing Director Kanoksakdi Bhinsaeng is keen to assist us in rolling out a unique and exciting facility here. Which specific countries are be-
ing looked at for sourcing players and as channels into Europe? This is a global exercise and as such there are no limits and no boundaries. We aim to source talent, great talent but we will start here in Thailand, then Asia, then Africa, Europe, South America etc. The focus is to build a reputation for being an outstanding
and world class facility with a view to becoming a destination academy for young athletes from all over the world. We hope to unearth some Samuel Eto’o’s, Lionel Messi’s, Park JiSungs, Neymars, Cesc Fabregas’. Our game is a world sport and the talents are to be found all over the world. The Buriram
Academy seeks to play its part in the emergence of a more inclusive and representative platform. There is talk of you owning and bidding for European Clubs in particular Leicester City in the UK and possible Clubs in Spain. Is there any truth to this?
With particular regard to Leicester City, our relationship is one of strategic partnership. Leicester City FC and its owners and management have great ambition and parts of their ambition sit well with the plans we have for the Buriram Academy. As for the Spanish Club story, it is “work in process” and as such
there are certain constraints to the amount of information I can divulge. But suffice it to say we are ambitious and we are hoping to be involved in the game for a long time. I am keen to expand the appeal of Thai football both domestically and internationally and we think the Buriram Academy can help grow our current reach and appeal in the global game. What is Leicester’s involvement? Leicester City FC just happens to be a club with which the Academy has set up working relations. As you witnessed, five young men from the Academy are heading to Leicester
City for a 6month stint at their Academy. The knowledge transfer and best-practice exchange is a key part of the development strategy of the Academy. From a young player’s perspective, it is also extremely beneficial to have a direct working relationship with a potential destination club. As such the ambitions of Leicester City Football Club to roll out a sustainable business module sits squarely with an academy keen on developing an ethical global talent-recruitment and development platform. Added to that important foundation, both academy and club share sponsorship relations in the King Power Group.
What is the roll of African players in the Academy? There isn’t a roll for African players because what we have here is a platform that accommodates talent full stop. Africa has a lot of talent and as such we think it is only logical that we accommodate the talent that emerges from that rich continent. One of the greatest challenges has is the shortage of facilities and as such the tradition has been that a lot of young talent get moved to Europe for development. We believe what the Buriram Academy offers is another option and in many ways a better option some of these young Athletes. In partnership with Rainbow Sport, we have
been able to welcome some amazingly talented young men and we are hopeful our facilities can ensure they develop and build on the existing talent they already possess. Players like Franck Ohandza, Obama Obama, Franck Achampong are playing and doing well in our League and we know more and more can come here and flourish. The exchange for Thai football will be that our players have the opportunity to learn and improve their game as they play alongside these players. When you look at the English Premier League, its strength and appeal has been its ability to attract and retain the services of players from different
parts of the globe. We want the same for the Thai League and Thai football. We hope players from all over the world will come to feel their ambitions can be fulfilled through the Buriram Academy. What sort of investment have you made here? The Academy facilities have cost me about 6million dollars whilst the all-seater stadium cost about 20 million dollars. A pretty sizeable investment, how do you plan on making your money back? This investment isn’t one of those.
Sometimes you do something because you want to and because it serves a mission bigger than money. The Academy and the clubs are here to serve Thai and global football. It’s like the players who are here with us today. I spoke with them on the subject of Academies and Africa they said they understand and can relate to the idea of doing things to serve greater goals. In Africa one of the greatest challenges you have in the football sector is the absence or shortage of infrastructure. We are looking to develop our relationships to see how we can lend some input to this particular development element.
Newin Chidchob
Newin Chidchob is an established businessman whose unbridled passion for football and his hometown has fostered an unparalleled investment in Buriram PEA FC nad Buriram FC. An absolute lover of attacking football and a firm supporter of the professionalization of Thai league football, Mr. Newin Chidchob has supported the development of the Buriram Academy and encouraged the emergence of his beloved club as a major player in international football. The i-Mobile Stadium and the Academy facilities are testament to his commitment and endeavour as well as an amazing tribute to the remarkable spirit of globalization enshrined in its operational ethos.
RE-CAP
NEW HEIGHTS AND NEW
DAWNS
BENOIT ASSOU EKOTTO
I was asked to share my thoughts on the final night of our trip on the flight back to Bangkok from Buriram and my first thought was to ask for more time to let it all sink in. However there is something to be said for capturing the feelings and thoughts when they are raw and right now I feel quite tender. Tender because as an African who dreams of Africa’s emergence from the grips of under-development, I am humbled by everything I have seen since Friday morning. Speaking with my colleagues on our individual expectations when we were leaving Heathrow on Thursday evening and now, following the days we have spent here,
the common thread is respect. We are citizens of a world that is forever informed by its prejudices and here I am sitting on a plane flying from a small town in rural Thailand which looks comparable to the small town of Arras in France in which I grew up. Forty-eight hours ago I would not have thought rural Thailand looked like what I have just seen. I would not have thought football had this kind of appeal in South East Asia. I would not have accepted that an individual’s ambition and passion could affect the lives of so many people for the good.
Community has a key part to play in any individual’s story and there really is something dynamic and beautiful when an individual agrees to be defined by their community but more importantly when they rise to the call of a community to play their part. It is a concept I believe in and an element I think our game needs more and more of. Cultural exchanges have a weird way at making a person re-evaluate themselves and as I sit here on this plane after an amazing day with young athletes who all dream of playing football on the biggest stages possible and I am keen to share my thoughts on the
Benoit Assou-Ekotto
Named “Spur of the Season 2010/2011� as the player who represented Effort, Attitude and Performance in the year Tottenham Hotspurs made its first charge into the UEFA Champions League. A committed attacking left-back who over the last two seasons has earned a reputation as being one of the best in world football.
role football can play in a community. I went into football aged 14 and 13 years later I have been privileged to see young men who remind me of myself all those years back, but with facilities I would be proud to have even at my present Club in London. These young men have the sort of facilities that the very best professionals would be privileged to work with and they have it because an individual wanted the best for his own. As a Cameroonian, I know at the heart of our football crisis is an absence of the will to give of our
best, to invest as individuals in the creation and establishment of the infrastructural facilities that form the basis for the emergence of talent. The individual is the starting block of a community and in the Buriram Academy I see an individual contributing their part. The inspiration that this kind of contribution brings is priceless and to the wider conversation that is global football I think it is invaluable. Most of the big Clubs in world football were formed and operate on the premise that we find here however the fullness of the story is very rarely told. I can’t say I have seen the
whole picture but what I take from this trip is the power of the individual and the need for action. The world needs more platforms like these, informed by a sense of duty on the part of the individual. We talk a lot of our rights in society and too little about our duties and tonight on this plane I feel a great sense of gratitude to nation that even as it battles with its emergence onto the world stage is rich with people who are heeding a call to action but also seeing their nation as part of a wider world.
Sven Goran Eriksson At Club level, few have a CV as full and broad as Mr Eriksson who has managed from the likes of Benfica, Roma, Fiorentina, Sampdoria and Lazio to the likes of Manchester City, Notts County and now Leicester City FC. To add to these, his experience is unparalleled at the international level having managed England, Mexico and the Cote d’Ivoire. He is without reserve amongst one of the most experienced and respected managerial names in world football with his stewardship at Leicester City FC expected to help guide the Club to new heights.
Aiyawatt Raksriaksorn
A young and dynamic entrepreneur, Aiyawatt Raksriaksorn is Vice-Chairman of Leicester City Football Club and man charged with overseeing King Power’s operations in English football. The son of the Vichai Raksriaksorn, Founderer and CEO of King Power Group, the leading player in Thailand’s Duty free shopping sector, Aiyawatt is carving out a respectable reputation for being an efficient, astute and shrewd businessman in his own right. With his role at Leicester City FC, Aiyawatt, known to close collaborators as “Top”, is proving to be the “Top Man” at charting the waters that are set to re-launch the club and its associated programmes to sound business efficiency.
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Kingsley Pungong Global football and the inter-connectivity of the game’s actors is morphing into a near unicellular structure informed by opportunity and reward.
of these young talents as early as possible and through their academy facilities, shape them for the exacting standards of these top leagues.
The reward is an element that has a very elastic definition but to many remains rooted in monetary valuation. Through my extensive journeys across Africa and Asia, I have come to see and sample a more fulfilling definition wherein the opportunity in and of itself is reward. Young athletes who value the opportunity to learn, play and grow as much as they do a pay package. Club owners who value the ability to train, shape and develop talent as much as they do running profitable business models.
However, with an ever-shrinking world and the emergence of new markets and new destinations, Rainbow Sports is keen to develop new avenues for the development of talent. In some instances, like we have found in the Buriram Academy, you are chanced to come upon a model that seeks not only to develop but also to retain and fulfill the ambitions of young athletes.
There are 4 or 5 major Leagues in Europe that have traditionally attracted the attention, appeal and inclusion of talent from across the globe. Young players from South America, Africa, Asia and North America have felt, for decades, that their dreams could only be fulfilled through entry into these leagues. The Clubs for their parts, made it a point to source and secure the services
Across Africa, the challenge posed to the development of talent is greatly rooted in the infrastructural handicaps posed by decades of under-investment. Added to this has been the engrained traditional appeal of the European Leagues. But with new horizons come new opportunities and the Buriram Academy is undoubtedly one of these. I remember my very first visit to the facilities when they were still
under construction. I remember meeting Newin and his team, hearing their plans for their club and being thinking to myself just how wonderful and exciting it is to see people committed to playing their part in world football. Ever since my days at Wasserman, I have always felt that football, at its truly global level, must begin to accommodate the aspirations of all parties and by this I refer to the myriad of nations who are involved in and passionate about the game. Working in Africa, I have seen, through the years, one too many talents lost to the game due the impossibility of fitting the abundance of willing players into the limited scope of top European Clubs. Added to this, the quality of development facilities available to these young athletes even when they do get the opportunity leaves a lot to be desired. In the Buriram Academy, we are presented with a platform prepared, not only to provide the highest quality training facilities but also one prepared to engage directly with African talent.
Exchange of knowledge and best practice as well as the possibility of the development of local academies are crucial to the development of the game in Africa. Such platforms play tribute to the awakening of a new spirit, a spirit entrenched in the very definition of world football. This game of football which we love is of the world and our world is diverse in every sense. However, if there is anything one thing it repeatedly reminds us, it must be that fact that its influence is beyond the football fields and stadia. Football can and is a vehicle that can afford our world opportunities for better understanding, opportunities for better cultural exchanges. In the rural town of Buriram, on a warm Saturday afternoon, a Swedish manager who has managed England, Mexico and the Cote d’Ivoire sat at a table with a Cameroonian professional born in rural France and another who had just come of a plane from Miami in the United States of America not forgetting the Nigerian international who grew up in Russia. Flanking them was a proud son of Thailand who had decided he wanted to make his contribution to the world game and there was, next to him another son of the soil who serves as Vice Chairman of one of the oldest clubs in English football. I had shared this table with these gentlemen and as I turned to my Bulgarian business partner, all I could say was: “Doesn’t the world seem smaller?”
Kingsley Pungong Formerly of Wasserman Media Group, Kingsley Pungong is the Founder and Managing Director of Rainbow Sports International, one of Africa’s premier football talent recruitment agencies. His talent-pool and on-the-ground expertise serves up a plethora of young, exciting and talented footballers from across the sub-saharan market sector. Through his dedicated and efficient operations, Kingsley continues to identify, unearth and shape footballing talent accounting for more than 40% of the Cameroon under 20s team participating at this summer’s World Cup in Columbia. He is undeniably amongst Africa’s leading sport entrepreneurs and with his partnership with Buriram, is set to stake an even greater claim on the identification, recruitment and development of the next African stars.