Project complete in 2004
50,000,000 Baht
Nong Chok, Minburi
Area: 20 Rai.
5 Floors Building
120 Rooms
Medical Center
Fitness Center
5 Training grounds

 
Michel Platini officially laid the foundation stone for the new National Football Training Centre
After waiting for nearly a century, Thai football has at last taken the first step on the road to a national training centre for all players, from national stars to juniors.
But the whole project will not be ready for two years. The building will take one year and then it will be another year before everything is ready and the training of players can start. French legend Platini, who is known as the ``Napoleon'' in his native country for all his has done for football in France, was the chairman of opening ceremony on 4th December 2002. Besides Platini, the other key men present yesterday were Football Association of Thailand (FAT) president Vijit Getkaew and secretary-general Worawi Makudi, and the governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT), Santiparb Tejavanija.

Platini, who is the Fifa technical chairman of Fifa and also on the world governing body's Executive Board, said he was delighted to be at the ceremony.  ``It is a pleasure for me to be here in Thailand to see the start of the national football training centre. ``This football training centre is a Fifa project and part of Fifa's policy to help in the development of football throughout the world. ``Fifa doesn't help countries in purely financial terms but also makes sure the money is used in the right way. ``Football is a simple game, you only need a ball and a pitch in order to play the game and when the ball is in the field anything can happen. ``This is the first step for Thai football and will help it go forward not only in the preparation for the national team but also in the development of youngsters and coaches as well. ``This is the first step on the road for Thailand to go on to reach world-class level in football. ``It should help Thailand one day become one of the 32 teams to reach the finals of the World Cup and maybe even win the World Cup one day like France and Brazil.''

FAT president Vijit said: ``The association is working hard to see football here develop and one day become world class.
``Being one of the 32 teams to reach the World Cup finals is not just a dream.
``While it may be too short a period to the next World Cup in Germany in 2006, in the long term things look good because we will have a national football training centre.''

FAT secretary-general Worawi said: ``This training centre will be the centre for creating national teams. ``Every team from the juniors to the national team will train at this centre.  ``This training centre is our weapon for the future.``We are aiming to one day be a finalist in the World Cup and this training centre will help considerably. ``It will take around two years for everything to be completed,'' Worawi added.

Altogether the project will cover 20 rai of land and Fifa will provide US$1 million (43 million baht).
``This money will be provided at a rate of US$250,000 a year,'' Worawi said. `` If there is an emergency, then Fifa will allow us to get an advance. '' The five-story training centre will have 120 rooms, one swimming pool, five training grounds and a fitness centre.