Football
Paul Murphy 8y

Borussia Dortmund forge partnership with Thailand club Suphanburi

Suphanburi FC president Varawut Silpa-Archa believes the province's new partnership with Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund will help the development of local talent and raise the club's profile on a global scale.

The Premier League of Thailand (PLT) side's deal with the 1997 Champions League winners is intended to be mutually advantageous. The Germans seek to promote their brand further in Southeast Asia, while the War Elephant benefit from the expertise of academy staff from one of the world's best supported teams.

One of the key areas of input will come when representatives from the Dortmund academy visit Thailand to pass on their knowledge. The eight-time German champions have recently overseen the development of several world class payers, including Marco Reus and Mario Gotze, with the latter since moving to rivals, Bayern Munich.

Silpa-archa is keen that the rewards extend beyond his club and can also enhance football across the local area.

"Products of the academy can be a useful resource for Suphanburi province," the club president told ESPN FC. "As there is Simork FC in the regional leagues and Suphanburi FC, there would be a clear pathway for players that could lead to playing for Suphanburi FC.

"This process will help the club develop its international profile when Dortmund are in our province. We already have a strong partnership with Yokohama F Marinos in Japan and this project would give our club a link to the links bring forged with the province."

The two clubs are still working together on the details of their first initiative, with Silpa-archa adding, "We have received further action details from relevant parties which we will make public as soon as a conclusion is reached."

With Dortmund heading to the Asia this summer to play in the Champions Cup China, alongside Manchester United and Manchester City, Silpa-archa was asked if there may be a possibility of seeing the German stars in Thailand. He said, "It Is unlikely there will be a friendly game due to the financial constraints that make it difficult for us to proceed at this time."

The announcement of this partnership with one of the world's genuine footballing heavyweights is another sign of how the profile of the game in Southeast Asia is rising. It is also another indication that Suphanburi FC have the ambition to become the best in Thailand.

^ Back to Top ^