ESPN Star Sports and Laguna Phuket raise THB 750,000 for Ban Klongsai School, Phang-Nga

The Laguna Phuket and ESPN STAR Sports football broadcasting team together raised THB 750,000 (roughly US$ 22,500) for Ban Klongsai School, Phang-nga this past weekend. The school is in desperate need for renovation works to improve hygiene and safety standards. The money raised from this weekend’s fundraising will establish an ongoing initiative to support this school.

Events kicked off on Friday afternoon, with a friendly five-aside football match at the Youth Football Home in Thalang, between ESPN Star Sports team and the Phuket Reporters Club. There were 20 young footballers from the home, with the other half of the school away on a football tournament in Sweden.

Saturday saw Laguna Phuket Golf Club playing host to a charity golf tournament, with sixteen teams of golfers taking part and playing with their favourite presenter. Later in the evening over 160 people joined the charity dinner and auction night, held at the Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket, hosted by veteran ESPN presenter John Dykes. Peter Withe, English league legend and former Thai national coach was the guest speaker at the dinner, entertaining dinner guests with anecdotes from his professional football career. An auction also took place with memorabilia up for grabs including autographed team shirts from Manchester United and David Beckham, a Rolling Stones signed Fender electric guitar as well as tickets to SING FEST And plenty of other fantastic items.

The ESPN Star team included Andy Penders, John Dykes of Football Focus and Andrew Leci of Here We Go; ex-Birmingham City’s Paul Masefield; pundit PJ Roberts; Malaysian ex-footballer and renowned sports commentator Shebby Singh; former Hong Kong Rangers footballer Derek Currie; presenter of the ‘Game’ Drinie Aguilar, ‘Score Tonight’s’ anchor Paula Ali, and pop star turned sports presenter Ally Begg.

The following morning the ESPN STAR Sports team visited Ban Klongsai School, where they had the opportunity to meet with the children and staff and see the need for renovation themselves. The THB 750,000 donation presented to the school will be used to renovate the school and furnish it with adequate sanitation, facilities and safe construction.

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