Duangphet “Dom” Phromthep, 17, posted a message on his Instagram account yesterday (Aug 23) saying “Today, my dream has come true because I will become a football student in England.”
The Chiang Rai native thanked the Zico Foundation, founded by former national team striker and former head coach Kiatisuk “Zico” Senamuang, his teachers at Vachiralai School in Chiang Mai and private firms for providing him this opportunity, reports the Bangkok Post.
“I want to thank coach Zico and I promise that I will do my best,” Dom wrote.
Between June and July 2018, Thai and international rescue teams scoured the flooded Luang cave in Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai district, to try to find 12 “Wild Boar” footballers aged between 11 and 16 and their 25-year-old assistant coach, who went to explore the cave complex on June 23.
The “Wild Boar” members were trapped in the cave for 17 days before they were finally found by two British divers.
The site has now become a tourist attraction in Tham Luang Khun Nam Nang Non National Park, and the dramatic real-life rescue has inspired Hollywood film “Thirteen Lives” directed by Ron Howard.
The Brooke House College Football Academy was introduced in 2008 and now has over 150 players, aged 11 to 19 from all ethnic backgrounds.
To date, 21 players have progressed to a professional football career after leaving Brooke House College, alongside players representing their National Teams at Youth & Senior Level.