A Buddhist monk who has blessed Leicester City’s players and stadium said he prayed deep into the night as the Foxes pulled off one of the biggest-ever sporting shocks by winning the English Premier League.
Phra Prommangkalachan, who has traveled to the Midlands club several times with their billionaire Thai owner, said he was praying during second-placed Tottenham Hotspur’s 2-2 draw at Chelsea, which gave Leicester the title.
“I prayed for them from 2am until 4am ... but the victory does not come from me, it is from the team and the goodness of the owner,” Phra said.
Photo: AP
The Foxes, virtual unknowns in Thailand until they were bought by duty-free magnate Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha in 2010, have seen their popularity skyrocket during the title run-in.
Several hundred supporters in the deeply superstitious nation, many wearing lucky amulets and other talismans, have flocked to screenings of recent matches at the vast downtown headquarters of Vichai’s King Power firm.
Another party is expected in Bangkok for Saturday’s visit of Everton to the King Power Stadium, where Leicester are to hoist the Premier League winner’s trophy.
At the King Power complex in Bangkok yesterday, staff spoke of their joy at the Thai link to a win in the Premier League, which is followed fanatically in the kingdom.
“I am very pleased for my boss [Vichai]... Leicester’s success will make Thailand famous around the world,” said Songkran Sae-li, a 38-year-old security guard.
A majority of people in Thailand, which is six hours ahead of British time, were asleep as Spurs threw away a two-goal lead in dramatic style to hand Leicester the title. However, workers were later keen to wax lyrical on the famous title victory.
Anan Sutchaliao, a Leicester fan and motorcycle taxi driver, hailed Chelsea’s “miracle” comeback from two goals down to a seemingly rampant Spurs.
“Thank you Chelsea for making Leicester champions,” he said.
The club has seen its Thai fanbase — known as the “Siamese Foxes” — grow from a smattering of die-hards to everyone’s favorite second team.
Premier League giants Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea traditionally draw a strong following.
However, in a country where success can bring a quick switch in loyalties, Leicester can expect to see a surge in fan numbers. Shirts have already sold out and Leicester’s owners are keen to tap into a large domestic pool of potential fans with public relations events and a Foxes’ branded national academy.
“I feel happy for Leicester... The team is small and it is the first time that they are the champions,” said Twin Wichaidith, who has supported the team for five months. “This will make Thais watch football more and the team will have more fans.”
Images lifted from social media of Leicester’s players wildly celebrating victory were emblazoned across the Thai fans’ Facebook page.
Comments on the page, which has more than 500,000 followers, praised Vichai’s ownership.
However, some in the devoutly religious nation attributed the win to the supernatural powers of Buddhism.
“There goes the team that just won the league, the team that got sacred water sprinkled from a Thai temple,” Huge Boripat wrote in Thai.
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