Full steam ahead for the plan to renovate a community’s football pitch and to fly promising young football enthusiasts for an apprenticeship at Borussia Dortmund, inspiring young minds while paving their way towards career in sports industry

Bangkok – July 22, 2020: Gulf Energy Development Public Company Limited, or ‘GULF’, a leading energy and infrastructure company in Thailand, collaborates with Thailand’s leading professional football club, Buriram United Company Limited, aka Buriram United Football Club in continuing the "Gulf Football Camp" project into its second year. The project aims to renovate the community’s old football field; and hold a trial tournament to recruit two rising stars of young footballers aged 14-15 years old, and another two from Buriram United Academy in order to send the selected four over to join an apprenticeship at Borussia Dortmund, the famous Bundesliga champion. All the efforts contribute to unleash the potential of young Thai footballers to the level that they become the future drive behind the country’s sport industry; as well as reiterate GULF’s mission of both driving the country’s economy and sustainably improving society and people’s quality of life.

Mr. Tanon Tantisunthorn, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Gulf Energy Development Public Company Limited said, “GULF values youth’s passion in sport and recognizes the importance of supporting and developing their potentials. Over the past few years, GULF has been supporting Thai football teams and organizing football clinic in the communities in which we operate. This year, we continue to carry on the project "Gulf Football Camp”. Once the COVID-19 situation is over, the promising and versatile football talents will be given the opportunity to hone their football skills in Germany and get to experience professional sports with a legendary world-class team.”

Mr. Chaichanok Chidchob, Assistant Director of Marketing and Communication for Buriram United Company Limited commented, “the football club has great success in youth development as shown in the numbers of youth players who have managed to become a part of the bigger Buriram United team, as well as the national team. Buriram United football club is delighted that GULF values youth development and trusts the club’s potential to turn youth dreams into reality. The club also believes that stars will be born within the project.”

The "Gulf Football Camp " project consists of three major activities. The first one involves the renovation of the community’s old football field. Anyone interested could propose the community’s field along with the reasons for renovation. The two companies will assess and select the one that represents the key qualifications and criteria. Another is the Trial Tournament of youth football taking place in the first quarter of 2021 to recruit two young talents from the public, and another two from Buriram United Academy. The selected four will travel to experience the 7-day apprenticeship at Borussia Dortmund, Germany, in order to sharpen their skills and prepare themselves towards being sport professionals. The project’s last activity is the community’s football clinic – in which Buriram United’s coaches and players will visit the community to train and mentor the young footballers.

Mr. Suresh Letchmanan, Managing Director of Borussia Dortmund in the Asia-Pacific Office, commented that the club is pleased with the continued alliance, in which they are willing to share their techniques and expertise with Thai youths. They will get to visit the club’s Signal Iduna Park – Germany’s greatest-capacity stadium and one of Europe’s most modern training center. Borussia Dortmund is positive that the young Thai players will earn the most impressive experiences that they could leverage in their future career paths. “GULF is well aware that pushing these young footballers to be capable of going the extra mile towards international level requires the all-round preparation. Beyond sports skills, the best results also lie in the facilities, the equipment, their aspiration to get beyond the limit, their willpower to empower those around them and their determination to be a part of the sports industry - whether to be an athlete, a coach, a strategist, or even a sports marketer. Therefore, GULF has helped created an array of activities to give young people the opportunities to do what they love and grow towards ultimate success in this industry,” concluded Mr. Tanon Tantisunthorn.

GULF and Buriram United are aware of the current COVID-19 spread throughout the world; and are concerned about the health and safety of the youths. Although travelling to Germany for an apprenticeship might prove to be hard under the circumstances, the working team is closely monitoring the situation to assess the feasibility of the project. Both companies will strictly adhere to rules and regulations to ensure ultimate safety; and will continue to work for the dreams of every Thai youth.

Anyone interested in having their community’s old football field renovated can submit their personal information and reasons why it deserves renovation; along with an MP4 video clip (no longer than 3 minute) of self-introduction and photographs of the old football field for consideration. The video clip can be uploaded through Google Drive, Dropbox, or WeTransfer. Download links are to be sent via email to GulfBRUTD@gulf.co.th by 31st August 2020.

Regarding trial tournament, the interested football teams and the young football enthusiasts could submit the participation enquiry to “Marketing and Communications Department, Buriram United Co., Ltd.,” by calling 02-658-3768, 081-705-4454 or sending an email to GulfBRUTD@gulf.co.th

For more information, please contact (media only)

• Gulf Energy Development PCL.
  Branding & Internal Communications
  Natchaya Patwichaichoat 02-080- 4015
  Email: CBCC@gulf.co.th
  
  Public Relations
  Nannicha Jit-iam (Pu) 02-080- 4091
  Nalinuth Sirisombut (Num) 02-080- 4579 or Natthawee Ruankaew (Boongkee) 02-080- 4024
  Email: communications@gulf.co.th

• Buriram United Co., Ltd.
  Marketing and Communication
  Kantapon Phoolsap (Bank)
  Tel: 095-526-2772
  Email: kantapon@brutd.com
  
  Marketing and Communications Consultant
  Daraka ‘Katie’ Srichaiyanupan
  Tel: 098-885-1800
  Email: katiecontact@gmail.com