SAT joins hands with Oxford to push Youth League – set up youth football system, waiting for budget approval to proceed immediately
“Big Kong” Dr. Kongsak Yodmanee, Governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT), revealed that during his trip to attend the World Travel Market 2024 in London, United Kingdom, he was invited by “Big Suea” Mr. Samrit Thanakanjanasut, the Thai CEO of Oxford United, a team in the English Championship, to visit the club and watch the game in which they defeated Hull City 1-0.
Dr. Kongsak said that from watching football. Even though Oxford is not a Premier League team, they have very high standards. Because the Championship currently plays football well and does not play headers like in the past. Mr. Samrit revealed that this ยูฟ่าเบท club has a standard academy, a standard location, ready personnel. Oxford is ready to cooperate with the SAT and the Football Association of Thailand to help create a youth system. Which is an important foundation for further development into a professional league.
The SAT Governor continued that the SAT has planned both the Youth League and the Football Excellent Center projects, and Mr. Samrit is ready to help facilitate in various aspects. Such as contacting those with knowledge in organizing the Youth League to create a competition structure. That is systematic and up to the same standards as England. Which will be an important foundation for developing children from a young age.
In addition, he will support clubs in Thailand to create their own academies and work with the Football Association of Thailand. After returning to Thailand. There will be a meeting of the three parties: the SAT. the Football Association, and Oxford, to discuss and push forward these projects.
When asked about the delay in organizing the Youth League. Dr. Kongsak said that the SAT already had a plan to organize the Youth League. But it was delayed because the budget for organizing the competition had not yet been approved. The SAT and the National Sports Development Fund are currently coordinating to quickly receive the budget approval. But now they can start discussing the plan with the Football Association and Oxford to prepare in advance. Once it is approved, it can be pushed forward immediately.
“Currently, the private sector has organized many youth football competitions, which is a good thing. But in the future, we want to make it a uniform system so that the athletes do not suffer too much injury. For example, in England, their training system does not require daily training or a lot of competitions. For example, Oxford only trains 3-4 days a week. If we can set up a youth league system, we will have to talk to other agencies so that the programs are not too demanding. Otherwise, the athletes will not be able to develop to their full potential,” the SAT governor concluded.