Atletikoh which was set up by Ran is celebrating its 3 year anniversary. They have recently moved to a brand new football field which began with a local Thai who wanted to fulfil a personal dream to set up a field at a high level on the island. Ran was actually looking for a new place where he could develop his own club, and their dreams connected.
“An amazing bond was formed between us and we decided to go into a long term cooperation”.
They can now be proud to also have the famous ladies group as well as the kids, the ladies group has been running for 2 years and as of right now the group is full!
“Recently we started having a game once a week for adults and...veterans! Amazing how it should have happened”.
What are the benefits of football for children?
The kids get a lot more beyond football in training, they get an education, boosting self-confidence, self-belief and understanding that they can go far beyond what they think they can.
My way and that of the other coaches at the club is to talk to the kids at eye level and give them the stage to express themselves and express their desires. In some way, all the kids at the club are like my kids. We care about them and they feel that and respect us a lot, I can feel and see that.
What uniqueness does it bring to Koh Phangan?
I think this activity has become much more than football training, it has become an event for the parents coming to the field and meet other parents, cooking lunch together or drinking beer together, it has become part of the club. A big family altogether. It's a large number of acquaintances and new friendships which have been created within these meetings.
It’s fun and very exciting to see this thing from the side, to see all the families and children continue to play together even after training, without a doubt shows me that there is something really good here. Beyond the next exercise in training and beyond the beautiful team shirt, there is work from the heart, And it can not be hidden
Where do you see the business in the next 5 years?
5 years is a long time, right now my next goal is to build another football field that we can give a chance to more children and new families coming to the island.
But without a doubt, Koh Phangan is my home and me and my wife Noam, without her, all this would not have lasted, we intend to continue with all our might to work with the children of the island, strengthen them, make them believe in themselves and try to contribute to the future generation as much as I can
And also to make them better footballers.
We have now strengthened the club with 2 new coaches and the goal is to add more professionalism to the training itself