“We have gone this far in the hope of inspiring children,” Nicharass Archyasithiwat said in her capacity as the “KFC Seven Shoot 2015” team leader.

“In staging this Bt50-million project, we want to help Thai kids discover themselves. When they know themselves and their potential, they will have a good chance of being successful,” she added.

She was speaking as she led 12 young footballers from Assumption College Thonburi, their two coaches and a few reporters to the football academy earlier this month.

“I am so glad we won,” said Saharat Sawatdee, the 15-year-old captain of the winning team.

While the “KFC Seven Shoot” is a seven-a-side competition, the team has a total of 12 individuals, including standby players.

The champions have had the rare opportunity to serve as ballboys during a match between Manchester City EDS (under-21 development squad) and Everton, rub shoulders with City’s top stars like Yaya Toure, David Silva, Sergio Aguero and Kevin de Bruyne, watch the big Premiership match between Manchester City and Everton at the Etihad Stadium – and to tour the stadium, as well as Manchester United’s Old Trafford.

They also got a glimpse of Liverpool’s Anfield and Everton’s Goodison Park during their trip.

On top of these special experiences, they won the right to attend a five-day workshop at City Football Schools – Manchester City FC.

Andy Smith, the school’s technical director of coaching, said the workshop was focused on instilling the abilities needed to become top football players.

He also emphasised that his school had tried to ensure that the Thai kids enjoyed the week and the experience at the club’s wonderful facilities.

“Such techniques are good. When kids have fun, they will have no complaint about training. They will want to do it,” said Pitak Wantayuth, a Thai coach who accompanied the Thai youngsters during the workshop.

Saharat and his team-mate Prinya Suriya did not see any language barrier during the training, as the City Football Schools coaches demonstrated what they should do.

“We speak the same football language,” they chorused.

Chanachon Triwud, another team-mate, said he had picked up some new techniques from the workshop.

“Now, I know how to feint like Yaya [Toure],” he added.

Kevin Beswick, one of the City Football Schools coaches, was full of praise for the Thai team. He said the kids had done really well, particularly during the friendly match against some boys from the Caribbean, which was staged as a part of the workshop.

“They [the Thais] came out as winners,” he said with a smile.

Saharat said he now planned to apply what he had learned from the workshop for his further development on the football field.

Suparak Sukkapan, the other Thai coach for the winning team from Assumption College Thonburi, said the “KFC Seven Shoot” had indeed created great opportunities and good experiences for Thai children.

Several of the scheme’s former outstanding participants have already made their way into a professional football career – to the delight of KFC, which has long aimed to create good inspirations for children.

Ritthidet Phensawat, for example, believes he has made it into the national football team partly because of his participation in “KFC Seven Shoot” tournaments.

Nicharass expects the “KFC Seven Shoot” experience to make Thai children well aware that if they know their goal and pursue it with determination, their dream can come true.

“This is not just about the football, either. This can apply to all other aspects of life,” she said.

Held annually since 2009, “KFC Seven Shoot” is a part of KFC’s CSR activities to encourage Thai boys to spend their time constructively by playing football – and to develop sportsmanship.

Forging closer ties

The project also aims to forge closer ties between KFC and local communities.

Under the scheme, a football team can compete only via the recruitment of a KFC store manager.

An area coach for KFC said children had greeted her every day via social media after they joined the “KFC Seven Shoot”. “They frequently drop into our outlets, too,” she added.

While the “KFC Seven Shoot 2015” project has now come to an end, KFC’s efforts for society continue.

Nicharass said the project was part of the firm’s broader “Add Hope” social-responsibility initiative, which covers four main areas: food, people, environment and community.

“We conduct activities on various fronts,” she said.

For example, for the environment, KFC is already running 11 green stores in Thailand, as judged by the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certifications they have received.