Thai cave survivors honoured by Manchester United
The 12 Thai youngsters enjoyed a day to remember at Manchester United’s Old Trafford.
The team of young Thai footballers, who last July were rescued from a flooded cave after being trapped for more than two weeks, were treated by Manchester United on Sunday. The 12 youngsters were guests of honor at Old Trafford as the Red Devils beat Everton 2-1 in the Premier League.
The team, named The Wild Boars, is currently on a World Tour that earlier this month took them to meet Zlatan Ibrahimovic and the rest of the Los Angeles Galaxy squad. Last July, the 12 footballers, aged between 11 and 16, along with their 25-year-old coach, were retrieved from the Tham Luang cave complex after a dramatic rescue effort. The emergency procedure claimed the life of a rescue diver, former Thai Navy SEAL Saman Kunan.
Rapturous United welcome
The Wild Boars were invited to United’s training ground to meet José Mourinho and the first team. The Portuguese tactician hugged every member of the team and posed for photos before signing souvenirs. Ander Herrera, Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial, Ashley Young, Andreas Pereira and Fred were among the United’s stars who met the youngsters.
Accompanied by two coaches, family members and Thai government official Werachon Sukondhapatipak, the Wild Boars enjoyed the Red Devil’s victory over Everton at the Old Trafford director’s box. The 12 kids, who were all wearing United’s scarves, received a rapturous welcome from the home support when introduced to the crowd before the kick-off.
After this, the whole stadium held a minute of silence in joint memory of Remembrance Sunday and the helicopter crash that took the life of Leicester City’s owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.