Unknown things about Thai steel rose

All are familiar with the image of the beautiful woman behind the success of Thai football, but few know that this is the first time “Madam Pang” Nualphan Lamsam has led the men’s soccer team at the SEA Games. The defeat against Malaysia made this not the expected debut, but at least “Madam Pang” has an unforgettable experience in Thien Truong.

“I have been involved in football for 16 years, but I am still amazed by this passionate and friendly atmosphere,” she said. It makes winning or losing in football suddenly become less important, as “Madam Pang” shared, the important thing is the tightening of feelings between countries to create a stronger Southeast Asia in the spirit of SEA Games 31.

For more than a decade and a half, the woman loved by all of Thailand knows that the best thing about football is the vibes of the heart. Like 3 years ago, when she joined the Thai women’s team to attend the 2019 World Cup, she witnessed the players hug each other and cry in the dressing room after the 0-13 loss to the US team. Before the tears were dry, Nualphan told the girls that they had to get up, keep fighting with pride and play like it was the last battle of their lives.

The next match, Sweden was still too strong. But Thailand decided not to give up. Minute 90 + 1, captain Kanjana Sungngoen bravely held the ball, broke through the defenders and shot the opponent’s net. At that moment, “Madam Pang”‘s chest exploded. She hugged Coach Nuengrutai Srathongvian, screaming with tears in her eyes. Again they cried. But this time it was tears of happiness.

“The crying woman” became one of the most impressive moments of the 2019 World Cup. Thailand failed but their courage and the spirit of “Madam Pang” moved the whole world, even many people thought that the Thai female players won that match, not that they lost 1-5.

“Results don’t matter when you touch hearts with your best performance,” Nualphan wrote on his Instagram account after the match.

Lamsam is a Thai-Chinese family with a business that was established in the early 20th century, starting with the timber business and rice milling before entering the banking and insurance sectors. They are so famous and rich that in Thailand, “lamsam” has become the term for “wealth and wealth”. Currently the Lamsam family is in the hands of Kasikorn Bank, or Kbank, worth nearly $100 billion, while Nualphan, a fifth generation, plays the role of Chairman and CEO of Muang Thai Insurance, one of the Thailand’s leading non-life insurance company.

Graduated from the prestigious Chulalongkorn University with a marketing major, and holds a master’s degree in management from Boston University, Nualphan does not like to be confined to the office. “Madam Pang” loves excitement, drama and overflowing emotions. So she said that “football is destiny”.

It started with a nightmare at the age of 25, when Nualphan woke up and realized he couldn’t see anything in his left eye. Doctors could not find a cause, then said that she may be blind. Heaven and earth seemed to collapse before the eyes of the girl in her twenties. “For an ordinary person, suddenly losing light is an unimaginable shock,” Nualphan said on a Thai television program.

For two years, she cried a lot and became emaciated after unsuccessful treatments in the US. At the most desperate times, her father said, “Even if you go blind, it doesn’t matter, I will be your eyes.”

When things gradually turned to despair, Nualphan returned and sought out temples in Thailand. Suddenly, the disease disappeared without a trace. It is truly a miracle. Since that event, she vowed to do her best to help the visually impaired in particular and the disabled in general.

For many years, “Madam Pang” has been a tireless sponsor of the Thai Association of the Blind. She also donates all profits from her autobiography “Life Without Roses” published in 2017 to support the Foundation for the Blind. In addition, Nualphan also helped, then became the manager of the Thai Paralympics team, bringing them to the Asian Para Games.

The enthusiasm and generosity of “Madam Pang” made a former President of the Thai Football Federation think that she was suitable for the role of team leader in the women’s soccer team. He persuaded her to take the position. No experience or knowledge about this sport, but Nualphan still accepted after witnessing the hardships of the female players. And she plunged into learning from the offside rule to the penalty, devouring every book about football before learning the reality of the sport.

Thai people consider Nualphan to be the benefactor of their country’s football. Indeed, it was she who changed the status quo of women’s football and created 2 historic events (attending the World Cup 2 consecutive times, 2015 and 2019). Like many parts of the world, women’s football exists in a lack of care, respect and financial support. She sponsors the national women’s soccer tournament, recruits players to Muang Thai Insurance company and pays them salaries, solving the worry of food and money. If someone has the ability, like some footballers from the impoverished northeastern region of Thailand, she helps them study for a bachelor’s degree, thereby getting a good job with a high salary compared to the average.

In tournaments, in addition to the money from the individual “Madam Pang” also called for businesses to build a large bonus fund for the team. As Thailand emerges as a powerful soccer team, Western media say part of the formula for success is “a rich benefactor”.

It is true that “Madam Pang” spent a lot of money. After her success with the women’s team, she became the President of Port Authority FC and managed the Thai men’s football team. She changed the fortunes of Port Authority with big contracts, and at the same time turned PAT Stadium into a legendary Thai League stadium because of its most vibrant atmosphere.

For the Thai national team, so far, the lucky draw for a Channel bag, Rolex watch or Iphone 13 at AFF Cup 2020 is still an impressive story. After winning that tournament, War elephants received 46 million baht in prize money, of which 26 million was raised by “Madam Pang”.

At the 31st SEA Games, Thailand U23 was promised a reward of 5 million baht if they won the gold medal. Everyone understands that is just the initial number. If you overcome the failure in the opening match and climb to the highest peak in the first time “Madam Pang” is the leader of the men’s soccer team at the biggest sports festival in Southeast Asia, War elephants will get more.

However, the phrase “rich benefactor” does not generalize the extent of the influence of “Madam Pang”. Ainon Phancha, defender of the Thai women’s national team once said, “Nualphan is not just a manager. She is like a mother in the family.” In addition to raising money, “Madam Pang” also called for showbiz stars to come to the field to cheer, call clubs to convince players to release players, boost morale and inspire the team in difficult times. She takes care of the team with responsibility and love, cries and laughs with them and enjoys all emotions with them.

“You can have a lot of money as a player, but that is not as important as heart and passion. Management really brings me happiness,” “Madam Pang” told ESPN not long ago.

According to Thanh Hai