Thai 'wai' At Everton? Why Not?

[george]

Thai 'wai' at Everton? Why not?

It looks like the traditional Thai "wai" greeting could find its way onto the football pitch in Britain.

Paul Gregg, director of Everton Football Club who came to Bangkok to sign a sponsorship contract with the makers of Chang Beer, was so impressed with the gesture that he came up with the idea that his players should do it before each game starts.

"It can draw more attention from the Thai fans to the Everton team. The wai can become the symbol of the team to make the team more popular," said Somchai Suthikulpanit, deputy managing director of Thai Beverages Marketing, the marketing arm of Chang Beer.

Gregg was in Bangkok to conclude the deal with the brewery. At the time, Thai media asked him to wai during an interview in his suite at the Oriental Hotel.

"However, he will have to discuss this issue with team manager David Moyes. And if they want to do it, it'll be because they are willing," Somchai said.

He poured cold water on the rumour that Thai Beverages Marketing would pay the club an extra Bt25 million to make the players wai.

"We successfully signed a one-year ?1.5-million [bt 110 million] sponsorship deal with Everton on Wednesday, and it had nothing to do with the wai," said Somchai.

--The Nation 2004-07-09