Bangkok temple now a venerated site for Leicester City fans
NATNICHA CHUWIRUCH, Associated Press
TASSANEE VEJPONGSA, Associated Press

BANGKOK (AP) — Tucked in the Chinatown area of Bangkok is a Buddhist temple that has turned overnight into a venerated site for Leicester City's fans, at least the ones in Thailand.

After all, it was the chief monk of that temple who some months ago had predicted that the team, which was a 5,000-1 outsider at the start of the season, would win the English Premier League title.

The prediction came true on Monday night, and by Tuesday morning fans were flocking to the Golden Buddha temple, hoping to get their hands on Leicester City banners blessed by the monk, Phra Prommangkalachan, who is revered by the club's Thai owners.

But no banners were for sale, the monk's assistant, Korpsin Uiamsa-ard, told the throngs of disappointed fans.

"I never believed in blessings until now," said Ling Prakorpvoon, 51, who came from the neighboring province of Chonburi for the blessed banner. "He (the monk) is incredible. Leicester never won and now this miracle."

Premier League football is popular among Thais, but many are fans of better-known teams such as Manchester United or Chelsea.

"The odds (of Leicester winning the title) were quite low. I am a follower of the monk himself and I think he is magical and holy," said Songwit Suwannaram, who has been the monk's follower for more than 10 years. "I so badly want the Leicester banner now because this just happened."

In fact, only a few such banners exist, said Korpsin, wearing Leicester City's dark blue jersey. He showed The Associated Press one of them — a rectangular yellow silk cloth with blue tassels and the club's fox emblem emblazoned on it. The lion is surrounded by Buddhist religious symbols.

Korpsin said the banners will not be sold but will be given to people chosen by Prommangkalachan.

"At the start of the year, if I had forced someone to take the Leicester team banner, no one would have touched it Who would've thought?" he said in an interview in a small room in the sprawling temple complex not far from the city's main train station.

The monk himself was away and not available for an interview.

He came into prominence when Thailand's King Power duty free company, owned by billionaire Vichai Srivaddhanaprbha, bought Leicester City six years ago. Vichai is a devotee of Prommangkalachan and got him to bless the team.

Vichai has also flown several monks from the temple — its Thai name is Wat Traimitr Withayaram — to England to bless the team, the King Power stadium in Leicester City, and also to lead spiritual sessions for the players.

"A lot of Thais believe that Leicester's win is good karma, or even a miracle," said Korpsin. "Barely anyone had heard of (Leicester City) before this season, and all of a sudden they've snatched the Premier League cup."

The temple plans to give gold amulets, blessed by Prommangkalachan, to each of the club's players. The unblessed amulets are sold in the temple's shop for about $1,700. Korpsin said two bigger amulets are reserved for Vichai and the team coach Claudio Ranieri, probably valued at about $5,000.

Even the young disciples who live and work at the temple are now fans of Leicester City, said Korpsin. "They all used to be Manchester United or Liverpool fans."

Now they wear the team's dark blue jerseys as they sweep leaves off the temple grounds and carry on other chores.

And at night? "They all transform — they wear Leicester's white away-game jerseys and chant its name while watching the game," said Korpsin.


-- (c) Associated Press 2016-05-03

Bitter/sweet. Happy for the supporters and great to see such an underdog win. Pity about the owner.

Hurry, hurry to the temple amulet shop for a great discount on sports jewelry...and don't forget to drop 20 baht in the donation box for the poor.

Leicester City won the title because they had two of the best players this season in Mahrez and Vardy, they won because they maintained the excellent form of last season, they won because Ranieri is an excellent manager who knows how to set up a team to grind out results when necessary, they won because their defence was excellent all season.

They won for all sorts of reasons to do with hard work and talent.

They did not win because of amulets, blessings and any other mystical nonsense people wish to attach to this brilliant season.

Edited May 3, 201610 yr by Bluespunk

Leicester City won the title because they had two of the best players this season in Mahrez and Vardy, they won because they maintained the excellent form of last season, they won because Ranieri is an excellent manager who knows how to set up a team to grind out results when necessary, they won because their defence was excellent all season.

They won for all sorts of reasons to do with hard work and talent.

They did not win because of amulets, blessings and any other mystical nonsense people wish to attach to this brilliant season.

Actually, and I could be wrong here, but there were defensive frailties to begin with but Ranieri addressed them appropriately and went on to craft a solid defence. I think after Arsenal thumped them 5-1 at the king Power stadium.

Leicester City won the title because they had two of the best players this season in Mahrez and Vardy, they won because they maintained the excellent form of last season, they won because Ranieri is an excellent manager who knows how to set up a team to grind out results when necessary, they won because their defence was excellent all season.

They won for all sorts of reasons to do with hard work and talent.

They did not win because of amulets, blessings and any other mystical nonsense people wish to attach to this brilliant season.

Actually, and I could be wrong here, but there were defensive frailties to begin with but Ranieri addressed them appropriately and went on to craft a solid defence. I think after Arsenal thumped them 5-1 at the king Power stadium.

Can happen on any given day I guess.

That's the beauty of the people's game.

Every little helped and the monks were no worse than the psycho babble of positive thinking and so on that's been used for years. It was 5-2 and going back to last season they were at the bottom for months then have only lost 4 times in over 40 games, Chelsea, Liverpool and twice to Arsenal.

Edited May 3, 201610 yr by thai3

You could not make it up, could you? Thai billionaire opens King Power Duty free at Castle Donington aka East Midlands Airport in partnership with DHL. A wide range of amulets and other animist memorabilia are on sale. together with Leicester City Mugs, photos of the owner landing in a helicopter on the Filbert Street Centre Circle, and of James Vardy waii-ing the ref, also pictures of dok bua malai at the feet of the goal posts ets andalll can be shipped in bulk worldwide. Full details may be had from the shop cashier, a Thai Buddhist monk with an impressive collection of vintage Mercedes., who will personally bless each purchase and for a further sum provide a certificate of authenticity in Thai, (Translation and MFA stamp extra)

You could not make it up, could you? Thai billionaire opens King Power Duty free at Castle Donington aka East Midlands Airport in partnership with DHL. A wide range of amulets and other animist memorabilia are on sale. together with Leicester City Mugs, photos of the owner landing in a helicopter on the Filbert Street Centre Circle, and of James Vardy waii-ing the ref, also pictures of dok bua malai at the feet of the goal posts ets andalll can be shipped in bulk worldwide. Full details may be had from the shop cashier, a Thai Buddhist monk with an impressive collection of vintage Mercedes., who will personally bless each purchase and for a further sum provide a certificate of authenticity in Thai, (Translation and MFA stamp extra)

Man United and the rest would never cash in on success of course with merchandise At least this stuff would be a bit different, you have not been able to by the kit for months, except the 200 baht ones on the market. Note the temple is not selling the banners but giving them away.

Edited May 3, 201610 yr by thai3

Every little helped and the monks were no worse than the psycho babble of positive thinking and so on that's been used for years. It was 5-2 and going back to last season they were at the bottom for months then have only lost 4 times in over 40 games, Chelsea, Liverpool and twice to Arsenal.

Hard work.

Talent.

Solid management and game planning.

Team work.

These helped.

Edited May 3, 201610 yr by Bluespunk

Leicester City won the title because they had two of the best players this season in Mahrez and Vardy, they won because they maintained the excellent form of last season, they won because Ranieri is an excellent manager who knows how to set up a team to grind out results when necessary, they won because their defence was excellent all season.

They won for all sorts of reasons to do with hard work and talent.

They did not win because of amulets, blessings and any other mystical nonsense people wish to attach to this brilliant season.

NOT TRUE ACCORDING TO THAILAND BANGKOK CHINATOWN TEMPLE. THE PLAYERS FROM LEICESTER CITY WILL BE COMING BACK SOON TO MAKE MERIT TO THE TEMPLE SOON FOR THEIR BLESSINGS.

Another utter disgrace to the Buddhist religion.

Now they wear the team's dark blue jerseys as they sweep leaves off the temple grounds and carry on other chores.
And at night? "They all transform — they wear Leicester's white away-game jerseys and chant its name while watching the game," said Korpsin.

Pity they can't donate the gold to local schools.

The temple plans to give gold amulets, blessed by Prommangkalachan, to each of the club's players. The unblessed amulets are sold in the temple's shop for about $1,700. Korpsin said two bigger amulets are reserved for Vichai and the team coach Claudio Ranieri, probably valued at about $5,000.

Why is this nonsense even tolerated by the top monks?

Oh, I know, they get a few kick backs too.

No worse than dunking babies in fonts for cash

Leicester City won the title because they had two of the best players this season in Mahrez and Vardy, they won because they maintained the excellent form of last season, they won because Ranieri is an excellent manager who knows how to set up a team to grind out results when necessary, they won because their defence was excellent all season.

They won for all sorts of reasons to do with hard work and talent.

They did not win because of amulets, blessings and any other mystical nonsense people wish to attach to this brilliant season.

NOT TRUE ACCORDING TO THAILAND BANGKOK CHINATOWN TEMPLE. THE PLAYERS FROM LEICESTER CITY WILL BE COMING BACK SOON TO MAKE MERIT TO THE TEMPLE SOON FOR THEIR BLESSINGS.

Lets hope they don't film their extra curricular activities with ladies of the night this time round.

I liked this

https://www.facebook.com/www.JOE.co.uk/videos/667017583462311/

Korpsin said the banners will not be sold but will be given to people chosen by Prommangkalachan.

Right. Of course the people chosen will coincidentally be the ones who donate xxxxx amount of Baht or greater.

It was hard work, teamwork, good management and good organisation. Oh, also a little bit of luck. But that has absolutely nothing to do with blessings from monks.

The Thai owners were also a big part of this. But let's not give credit to men in robes and amulets, please.

I liked this

Me too!

Back in real ( Rugby ) Football ,Bath Rugby will meet Leicester Tigers at the Recreation Ground this weekend...

@ "Bluespunk" - peoples game indeed!

☺☺☺

Back in real ( Rugby ) Football ,Bath Rugby will meet Leicester Tigers at the Recreation Ground this weekend...

@ "Bluespunk" - peoples game indeed!

☺☺☺

If you knew anything about Football you'd know that is what it is.

Even as a die hard Toon fan, I shall not be looking for this type of guidance. I did,however, find a turtle on the road tonight on the way home and I shall rub powder on its shell later.

Edited May 3, 201610 yr by BigBadGeordie

In a nutshell :

As much as I am well pleased with Leicester City's fantastic achievement, it could well be a case of here today....gone tomorrow.

What they have cdone despite 5000\1 odds is prove that when a team of players are happy and work together they can rise above all expectations and achieve the impossible.

On the flip side, once that team loses sight of the common cause and becomes embroiled with inflated egos and discontent with the manager because their

' invaluable ' contribution is not lavishly rewarded, it can all fall apart as quick as it came together.

Top flight football players are fickle humans. If not pandered to they can go off the boil in less than a season.

There are thousands of buddhist temples all over Thailand. If each one supports one of the teams then its just a matter of numbers that one of them would pick the winning team. Thus my western logical minds says this is just a coincidence. I am sure there is some theory in statistics about this?

No taking away the great achievement of Leicester City. Winning without spending copious amounts of cash and with many British players instill my faith back in football. I do find the whole Thai. 'lets jump on the bandwagon' that its a Thai victory. same happened when they found out Tiger Woods mother was Thai. The worlds best player is Thai? no he is African American which he reminded everyone very quickly.

Let me remind people here Leister city is in England. they play in the English Premier league. There are no Thai players in the team. The team is sponsored by a man who owns a company in Thailand.

It reminds me of when Man city had Mr. T as the so called saviour.

Edited May 4, 201610 yr by Laughing Gravy

Well done LC

Is this the same one to go for my lottery numbers ?

Is this the same one to go for my lottery numbers ?

Every temple specializes in lottery numbers for a fee.

I've no doubt that in a couple of weeks you will be able to buy one of these banners in the local market.

Leicester City won the title because they had two of the best players this season in Mahrez and Vardy, they won because they maintained the excellent form of last season, they won because Ranieri is an excellent manager who knows how to set up a team to grind out results when necessary, they won because their defence was excellent all season.

They won for all sorts of reasons to do with hard work and talent.

They did not win because of amulets, blessings and any other mystical nonsense people wish to attach to this brilliant season.

There a certain amount of luck as well. If you get a few good results it boosts confidence but a few bad ones drains it and it's then very difficult to get it back. Even someone like Mourinho can find it all going wrong very quickly.

It's highly unlikely they will do as well next season as they are still a small club and they're now going to be spreading themselves into Champions League but it has given them a boost both psychologically and financially so hopefully they'll be spared a relegation battle and become a better club that stays in the Premier League.

Of course if it's true that it's that their success is down to the blessing from this monk and if he does it again next season then perhaps I shouldn't bother congratulating them. I'll wait until next season when backed by the blessing and armed with their amulets they win the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup plus form a group and win X Factor and Britain's got Talent.

Just in case congratulations to them after working so hard.