Wild Boars boys, coach receive Thai citizenship

Thirty people, including three Wild Boars footballers and their coach-turned-monk, show their ID cards after receiving Thai citizenship at the district office in Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai province on Wednesday. (Photo by Chinnaphat Chaimon)

CHIANG RAI: Three Wild Boars footballers and their coach have received Thai citizenship amid cheers from their parents.

Mae Sai district chief Somsak Kanakham held a ceremony on Wednesday to give Thai ID cards to 30 new Thai citizens. Among them were three boys from the Wild Boars "Moo Paa" Academy football club -- Adul Sam-orn, Mongkol Boonpien and Pornchai Khamluang -- and their coach. Ekkapol Chanthawong.

The three boys were granted Thai citizenship under the terms of the Citizenship Act for those migrating to the country. The coach received Thai nationality as he was born at Mae Sai hospital.

Their families, along with Phra Khru Prayut Jetiyanukarn, the abbot of Wat Dao Waoi, were among those attending the ceremony at the district office.

The boys ordained as novices at the temple in Mae Sai on July 25 and returned to normal life on Sunday to continue their studies. The coach, who ordained at the same time, has not left the monkhood.

The new Thai citizens were part of a group of 13 people who entered the cave complex in Tham Luang-Khun Nam Nang Non Forest Park on June 23 and were trapped by rapidly rising flood water. A team of international and Thai rescuers brought them all out safely between July 8-10.