Football Match Between Cabinet And Foreign Envoys

[george]

Special football match between cabinet and foreign envoys

BANGKOK: -- A special football match has been arranged between members of Thailand’s cabinet and foreign embassies in the country's southern resort province of Phuket on Saturday.

The game is part of the government campaign to revive the tourist industry in the country’s six tsunami-hit provinces, including Phuket, Phang-nga, Krabi, Trang, Ranong and Satun.

The Andaman Friendship Match is scheduled to kick off at 4 p.m. at the Surakul Stadium in Phuket’s Muang district, Interior Minister Bhokin Bhalakula told a press conference on Monday.

The main aim of the game is to help restore confidence in the local tourist industry and highlight Thailand’s relief and reconstruction efforts in the affected provinces, the minister said.

Members of the 24 diplomatic corps have agreed to participate in the special match, according to Mr. Bhokin.

They include Argentina, Belgium, Bhutan, Brunei, Canada, Egypt, France, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Laos, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Peru,

Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.

The diplomats will wear blue jerseys, while the Thai team will be dressed in red jerseys.

The Thai team will consist of MPs and cabinet members, including Mr. Bhokin, Deputy Interior Minister Pracha Maleenont, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti, Justice Minister Pongthep Thepkanjana, Commerce Minister Watana Muangsook, Industry Minister Pongsak Ruktapongpisal, Tourism and Sports Minister Sontaya Kunplome, and Science and Technology Minister Korn Dabbaransi.

--TNA 2005-02-22