Six Young Football Stars Head to Japan for Six-Month Training

On 24 September 2024 at Suvarnabhumi Airport, Deputy Lieutenant Noun Sansunak, director of the Government Lottery Office, sent off six youth footballers from the GLO STAR 2026 programme as they departed for Japan to begin a six-month training programme with Avispa Fukuoka, a club in Japan's J.League, amid family and media well-wishers.

The six youths qualified after progressing through the GLO Cup 2026 regional eliminations across all seven regions, the Thai national championship round, and selection at the GLO STAR Camp. They comprise three players from the U13 category—Pachon Ocharos (Omsin), Lucas John Homer (Lucas), and Phakphol Sripadta (Page)—and three from U15: Nattawat Dangkaisai (Tul), Pokorn Buntah (Messi), and Vorakorn Rintachai (Dream).

Deputy Lieutenant Noun gave the six youths words of advice and encouragement, stressing they make full use of the opportunity in all aspects—football and life abroad. The Government Lottery Office director said the deployment marked a proud milestone for the programme, as the six would gain invaluable experience from six months of professional football training in Japan.

Beyond football, the young athletes are expected to gain experience in life skills, discipline, exposure to new cultures, and exposure to professional club training standards in Japan. Deputy Lieutenant Noun also highlighted the success of the first GLO STAR cohort, which trained with Avispa Fukuoka and brought their experience back to advance their football careers in Thailand—examples including goalkeeper Theeraphol Khamklam (Cabu), who was later called up to Thailand's U17 national team for Asian Championship qualification, and midfielder Kluewat Duangklang (Ton Klai), who joined Nong Bua Pitchaya FC and played at U21 level at age 16.

"For me, this shows that the opportunity we give these children doesn't end when they return to Thailand—they can bring their experience back and build on their own football path," he said. "After six months, we want to see all six show change in their technique, mindset, discipline, and responsibility, and we want them to take these back to their clubs and step into the Thai national team."

"If ultimately one of these young players returns and moves toward a professional club, makes the national team, or goes even further, that is the programme's success—because the most important thing is enabling one young person's opportunity to build toward a real future." Over the next six months, all six GLO STAR 2026 players will train and learn Avispa Fukuoka's football system while adapting to life, culture, and their new environment, before returning to advance their own football paths in future.