Hopes Of A Nation
Pattranis Boonmee, Thailand
I’m Pattranis Boonmee or I go by Une. I am a sports reporter from Thailand. I started watching football when I was 6 years old with my dad during France 1998 and it became part of my life since then. I always enjoyed watching it and as I am now working as a sports reporter, I’m lucky enough that I get to enjoy some incredible scenes up close.
Who is in the photos? Where were the photos taken?
These photos were taken at the camp of our Thailand Women’s National Team before departing to France for the Women’s World Cup. We received the special edition World Cup stickers, which featured the girls, and this was the moment when they first got to open the box to find their own faces. It was full of energy and quite a fuss, obviously because they were excited to see they were featured in this special edition stickers - it meant so much to them. They wanted to show their family and friends too because for some of them, it could be something once in a lifetime - especially our striker Kanjana Sung-Ngoen, who is in her 30s and 2019 will probably be her last World Cup. So this sticker could be the greatest souvenir in terms of recalling her sweet memories.
Another photo was taken at the airport when the team came back from France. Our head coach Neungruethai Sathongwien embraced her nephew who came to welcome her home.
What did you try to show with the photos? Was there any wider meaning with the photos?
The special edition of World Cup stickers featured all the players participating in World Cup 2019 including the Thai ladies. They had a chance to open the package and look for their own stickers, which was exciting and kind of breath-taking, because not everyone was included in the box - you have to bet on luck too. Besides their jerseys and ID cards, those stickers would be a kind of proof that they made it to the World Cup for real. For some it could be their first or the other way around, their last.
Are there any good stories connected with the people or teams you photographed?
I would say these women made dreams come true for us Thai. If we go back before 2015 and if someone said Thailand would make it to the World Cup, most of the people would hardly believe it. But these ladies proved them wrong by entering World Cup 2015 and after that, the story goes on and on. They never stop making us Thais proud even though they had to sacrifice so much.
Kanjana Sung-ngeon, our striker, is married but she made it clear that she would not have children until she retires from playing football because she wanted to give her best to the team. And that was one of the reasons, apart from her skills, why she was and still is praised by so many people for her dedication. Our head coach (who has now stepped down), Neungruethai, is the only woman in Thailand that has completed the pro-license and beat a lot of men, score-wise. And of course, going to the World Cup twice would best describe her ability.
What are the opportunities for female footballers in Thailand?
Rare would be the word. The women’s football league in Thailand was founded in 2009 but not until 2017 was it managed and competed the way it should be. The schedules, stadiums, support, transportation and so much more still remain unstable. A lot of women players have to work in the office to make their living while football is more of a part-time job instead of being their career. Trials for youth to join the national team take place more often now, but still not level with the numbers of men.
Why is football so important for Thai people?
The Thailand football team is considered the best in ASEAN (Southeast Asia), but we want to surpass that, to be at the top of Asia and recognised by the world. The women went to the World Cup twice and this raises the hopes and dreams for children in Thailand to follow in their footsteps and one day being able to do so, or do even better. And it would at some point, be good for the people in charge to focus more on women’s football in Thailand, not only winning trophies or going to a World Cup, but to push it through so that being a football player can eventually be a career to make a living.
What role does football play in Thai society?
Not much of a difference from many countries in the world, football is the number one sport in Thailand. I would say more than half of the country loves watching football. When it comes to national games, it creates not only pride but also unity of our nation. No matter who you are, where you are from, what clubs you support, when it comes to national games people come together for only one objective, to cheer on.
What does football mean to you?
To me, personally, football opens up my world. I am not a footballer but as I am now working as a sports reporter, I would say football takes a huge part in my life. It paved the way for me to find myself early and what I want to do for a living, what I love watching, and what I enjoy seeing; on and off the field. Learning the characters of the players helps me understand the world and people easier too.
What is the future for Thai women's football?
This is a very complicated question to answer. The coaching team has just changed, some of the players decided to retire or think of retirement, and some went abroad for their career. So I would say focusing on the youth is a must and let’s start from there. In addition, a women’s league has to be more professional and made equivalent to the men’s league, because that would be the best source to find new talents.
