Rodgers who only replaced Claude Puel at King Power Stadium last month, has also arrived with captain Wes Morgan, strikers Jamie Vardy, Shinji Okazaki and Kelechi Iheanacho, plus defenders Danny Simpson and Christian Fuchs.  A total of 41 LCFC representatives attended a ceremony at the temple right after their arrivals.

They will take part in a ritual during the ceremony at 6pm on Thursday and will return to England the next day.

Vichai died in a helicopter crash outside the Leicester ground on 27 October last year, a tragedy regarded as one of the greatest losses in Thailand sporting history.

The 26-year-old midfielder has been called up to the national team for the first time since last June’s friendly against China in Bangkok, when Thailand lost 2-0.

“I’m glad and proud to be back with the team,” said Sarach, who first appeared in the national team six years ago and skippered Thailand to SEA Games gold in Singapore in 2015. “I still feel that the warmth and friendship among the players remain the same.”

Despite a series of withdrawals, including star striker Teerasil Dangda, the Samut Prakan-born Sarach is confident the current squad has enough ammunition to push a strong Chinese side all the way in the China Cup curtain-raiser at the Guangxi Sports Centre.

“I believe the players we have are of quality. They got their way in by showing impressive form in the Thai League,” Sarach said. “They just need to tune up a bit more on the tactics like the coach [Sirisak Yodyadthai] said. I believe they will bring it on to prove that they all deserve to be here.”

Sarach sustained a severe ankle injury during a Thai League game in 2017 and only returned to action recently. Apart from the 2015 SEA Games gold medal, he also helped Thailand win the Asean Cup in 2014 and 2016, as well as the King’s Cup in 2016.

For his part, Sarach said he has done all he can to impress at training and is determined to show that he is worth his recall.

“This return is very crucial to me,” he admitted. “After the injury, I have yet to fully regain my confidence and I still cannot get it out of my head completely. So if I’m in the first line-up, I will try to play at my best to regain my confidence back.”

The match is being shown live on Tharath TV 32, with coverage starting at 6.20pm.

The tour, which has been held since 2009, will this year commemorate the Princess’s 64th birthday on April 2. The men’s and women’s individual winners will receive honorary trophies from Her Highness.

A total of 20 teams from 14 nations – the United States, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Australia, Malaysia, China, Italy, Taiwan, Uzbekistan and Singapore – will take part in the men’s team and individual events from April 1-6.

The men’s route covers a distance of 974.53km and features one stage per day: the first stage covers Phitsanulok, Sukothai and Uttaradit; the following day runs from Uttaradit to Phrae and ends in Nan; day three takes in Nan alone; the fourth stage starts there and ends in Phayao; day five runs goes from Phayao to Lampang; and the sixth and final stage on April 6, begins in Lampang and finishes in Chiang Mai.

After a day off, the three-stage women’s tour, featuring 16 teams, starts on April 8.

The 247.80km women’s race takes place in Chiang Mai on day one, Chiang Mai-Lamphun on April 9 and Chiang Mai on April 10.

According to Thai Cycling Association president Gen Decha Hemkrasri, this year’s tours will take the riders through scenes of great natural beauty in order to promote tourism in those areas.

Both tours will be streamed live on the Thai Cycling Association’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/taca1959).

Team Sky has new owners

Team Sky have secured the backing of Britain’s richest man and will begin racing as Team Ineos as they seek to maintain their dominance of world cycling.

The British outfit had been seeking new funding after broadcasting giant Sky announced in December it would end its ownership and sponsorship at the end of 2019.

Team Sky have won six Tour de France titles in the past seven years and racked up eight Grand Tour victories in total but have also been the focus of controversy for using special exemptions to administer drugs that can enhance performance.

Four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome and current Tour de France champion Geraint Thomas both welcomed the announcement that enables the group of elite riders to stay together under the umbreall of the chemicals giant.

Team principal Dave Brailsford hailed the announcement, saying it ended uncertainty and was a “huge vote of confidence in our future”.

Six of the richest people in the list published by American business magazine Forbes own either American Football (NFL) teams and/or National Basketball Association (NBA) franchises and one man, Stan Kroenke, owns a major stake in no less than five teams, in five different major sports: NFL, NBA, EPL, ice hockey (NHL) and Major League Soccer (MLS).

Five of the top 20 currently own EPL clubs, including Leicester City’s Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, who comes out at 17th with a net worth of $5.9 billion (Bt187 billion).

There are two other notable features: London is the city that appears most in the elite group, with four EPL teams making the top 20: Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham and Fulham. Los Angeles follows with three.

However, it is a sport that lags far behind football, basketball and American football that takes top spot: Mukesh Ambani, owner of the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League, is far and away the richest sports owner in the world.

On the pitch, 2018 was a dismal year for the Indians, who lost more than half of their games in the 11th season of the IPL. They had previously won the trophy three times in its first 10 years.

In the business world, however, it was another glittering year for Ambani, who owns the Indians through his Reliance Industries – he increased his net worth by $10 billion, to $50 billion, and his wealth has more than doubled over the past two years. Forbes says Ambani is not only the richest sports team owner in the world, he is also the 13th richest person on the planet and the richest person in India.

Steve Ballmer, owner of NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers, remains No 2 on the list and the wealthiest owner of an American sports team, followed by Dietrich Mateschitz, the billionaire owner of the Red Bull energy drink company and its Formula One team.

Rounding out the five richest sports team owners are San Jose Sharks owner Hasso Plattner ($13.5 billion) and Chelsea’s Roman Abramovich ($12.4 billion).

“Considering the future of the JOC, I think the most appropriate thing is to leave things to a new leader from the next generation so that they can host the Olympics and carve a new era,” Tsunekazu Takeda told a meeting of the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) in Tokyo.

He said his decision had “nothing to do with the investigation”.

The 71-year-old said he would also be stepping down from the International Olympic Committee.

Takeda has come under pressure not to seek an additional term when his current mandate ends in June after it was revealed that French authorities believe they have evidence of corruption in the awarding of the 2020 Games to Tokyo.

Current JOC rules require candidates for the top post to be 70 or younger at the time of their candidacy, but there had been rumours the committee was considering a change to allow Takeda to stay on through 2020.

In recent months however, the investigation into Takeda has become an unwelcome distraction for organisers of the Games, with less than 500 days until the opening ceremony.

Asked why he did not step down immediately, Takeda said: “I really feel sorry for causing this sensation, but I think I’m responsible for fulfilling my chairmanship until my term ends.”

– ‘I did not do anything wrong’ –

Takeda has denied any involvement in corruption and again protested his innocence on Tuesday.

“As I have said, I did not do anything wrong. I will continue to make an effort to prove my innocence,” he told journalists.

In January, it was revealed that Takeda was facing a judicial process in France over two payments totalling 2.8 million Singapore dollars (US$2.1 million at today’s exchange rate).

He has been placed “mis en examen”, a legal step that roughly translates as being charged.

It does not automatically trigger a trial but means that prosecutors believe there is strong or corroborated evidence of wrongdoing.

Takeda has said he was “never involved in any decision-making process” over the payments and that the money was legitimate reimbursement for “a consultancy contract signed through appropriate approval procedures.”

The French investigation, launched in 2016, centres around two payments made to Singapore-based firm “Black Tidings”, a firm linked to Papa Massata Diack.

Diack is the son of the former head of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), Lamine Diack, and is also embroiled in a bribery scandal.

He is suspected of having received several million euros in bribes, either for sponsorship contracts or to favour the Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo Olympic bids.

He has been on Interpol’s most-wanted list since 2015, but the Senegalese government has refused to extradite him to France despite pleas from IOC chief Thomas Bach.

The payments, labelled “Tokyo 2020 Olympic Game Bid” and paid from a Japanese bank account, were made before and after the IOC voted for Tokyo to host the Games.

– ‘No means of knowing’ –

The case is being investigated in France because of suspicions the funds may have been laundered there.

According to documents seen by AFP, Takeda told French investigators that Black Tidings had been recommended by the giant Japanese advertising firm Dentsu.

Dentsu is the IAAF’s main marketing partner, and Massata Diack previously oversaw the IAAF’s marketing strategy.

A former Olympic showjumper, Takeda spearheaded Japan’s campaign to win the Summer Games for a second time. His father, Tsuneyoshi, a grandson of Emperor Meiji, was also a former JOC head.

Yasuhiro Yamashita, a JOC board member and an Olympic heavyweight judo champion in Los Angeles in 1984, is among the candidates to replace Takeda, according to local media.

In a statement when news of the indictment broke, Tokyo 2020 said it had “no means of knowing the bid committee’s activities”, which occurred before the organising committee was set up.

“We believe that the Games were awarded to Tokyo because the city presented the best bid,” the statement added.

Els previously named Australia’s Geoff Ogilvy as captain’s assistant in late November.

Choi will return as an assistant for the second time after serving as vice captain to Nick Price when the Presidents Cup made its debut in Korea in 2015. A three-time Presidents Cup competitor (2003, 2007, 2011), Choi owns a 6-8 overall record and posted a 3-2 mark in 2011 at Royal Melbourne, where he partnered with fellow captain’s assistant Ogilvy to win two Four-ball matches.

“I’m personally very happy and honored,” Choi said. “You need amazing teamwork to win the Presidents Cup. It’s our role as captain’s assistants to bring together players of different nationalities and have them blend well together. It’s our role to have them open up to us and help relieve some of the pressure they might feel.”

Choi’s more than 20 professional victories worldwide included eight career PGA TOUR titles, which were highlighted by his dramatic playoff win at THE PLAYERS Championship in 2011. Considered Asia’s most successful golfer to date, Choi spent 40 weeks inside the top 10 of the Official World Golf Ranking.

“As the most successful Asian golfer on the PGA TOUR, K.J. certainly commands a lot of respect amongst our players and I believe he will fire up our guys at Royal Melbourne,” Els said. “K.J. has a calm demeanor, which will be a valuable asset in our team room and out on the golf course during the heat of battle. I’ll be counting on K.J. to impart his vast experience of being a three-time International Team member as well as a captain’s assistant when we map out our strategies during the competition.”

Els also tabbed fellow South African Immelman, who will make his debut as a captain’s assistant with two Presidents Cup berths on his resume (2005, 2007); he and Els shared one Presidents Cup appearance together in 2007. In 2017, Immelman served as the first-ever International Team Captain for the Junior Presidents Cup, which debuted at Plainfield Country Club just days prior to the Presidents Cup at Liberty National.

“I’m very excited. I can’t wait really. I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunities to play in ’05 and ’07, and it was a very enjoyable time in my career,” Immelman said. “For me, I probably know [Ernie] better than any of the other people on TOUR and so hopefully that’s what I can bring to the team is the fact that I really understand the captain. I know his history, I know his record, I obviously hold him in great esteem and so maybe I can be a good conduit from players to the team captain.”

Immelman is a two-time PGA TOUR winner whose career is highlighted by his victory at the 2008 Masters, where he edged Tiger Woods by three strokes. He also teamed with Rory Sabbatini in 2003 to win South Africa’s most recent World Cup of Golf title.

“I have known Trevor for a very long time and trust him fully to know that he will be an integral element in our team,” Els said. “As a fellow competitor, Trevor is as steely as they come and I am sure this attribute will rub off positively onto our players. When I played in the same team as Trevor in 2007, he was one of our most determined players and I know he will contribute to our cause in Australia.”

Weir will return for his second stint as a captain’s assistant after serving for Nick Price at the 2017 Presidents Cup. He has competed in five Presidents Cups (2000, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009) and was a teammate of Els four times. The eight-time PGA TOUR winner is 13-9-2 all-time at the Presidents Cup and one of five International Team members with 10 or more match wins in the competition. In 2007, the Presidents Cup was staged in Canada for the first time, and Weir put on a show for his Canadians fans with a 3-1-1 record that was capped by a thrilling 1-up victory over Tiger Woods in Singles.

“The Presidents Cup has been a big part of my career. I grew up playing a lot of team sports and when I made my first Presidents Cup team in 2000 it was really one of the highlights,” Weir said. “So it’s been special to still be part of the team as an assistant to Nick and now Ernie. We have a long history. We’re basically the same age, we’ve played a lot of golf together so it’s going to be really fun to try to get the Internationals over the line this time.”

Of his eight PGA TOUR victories, Weir’s most triumphant moment came with his breakthrough playoff win at the 2003 Masters – one of three titles he collected that season.

“I’ve played on the same International Team with Mike on four occasions and he’s one of the most passionate guys I know when it comes to the Presidents Cup,” Els said. “I also worked alongside Mike as a captain’s assistant in 2017 and he brought a considerable amount of experience and input into our team room and provided a positive influence on our players. His presence will be invaluable as we seek to regain the Presidents Cup.”

The Three Lions open their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign at home to the Czech Republic on Friday fresh from a run to the last four of the World Cup last summer and with another semi-final to come in the Nations League in June.

“I think we feel that expectation where people now expect us to do well and I think before the World Cup there was no expectation. It is great that we have turned that around,” said Kane on Tuesday.

“I think we’ve handled it really well since the World Cup. I think we’re the only team who got into the semi-finals at the World Cup to have got through their Nations League groups, and we had probably one of the hardest groups.

“I think that was big for us, to prove to everyone that it wasn’t just a one-off. That this team we are really building for something special in the future.”

England’s chances of winning a major tournament for the first time since 1966 next year will also be boosted by having the majority of their games at Wembley.

Both semi-finals and final will be held at the home of English football, as well as at least two of England’s group games should they qualify.

“We know the chance to play a Euros where most of the games are at home is an amazing opportunity and you don’t often get that in your career so we will try and make the most of it,” added Kane.

Despite Tottenham’s faltering form of late, Kane has scored four times in five games since returning from a five-week injury layoff due to ankle ligament damage.

And the World Cup Golden Boot winner thinks he is “in the zone” in front of goal ahead of a massive three months for club and country with Spurs set to face Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-finals and in a battle for a top-four Premier League finish.

“I never want to be injured, but I had that break while I was injured and I’ve used that to make sure I’m fresh now,” he added.

“I feel in that zone, where if I get a chance, I’m going to put it away. You go through spells like that during the season.

“Since I came back from injury, I feel like I’m sharp with a lot of energy, and that’s when I feel I’m at my best.”

Kane’s latest goal in a 2-1 defeat at Southampton was the 200th of his career, but at just 25, he hopes he can follow the example of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi by maturing into an even more prolific goalscorer late into his twenties.

“Nowadays with everything, sports science, I feel the prime can be a bit later.

“Maybe 28 to 30, that’s maybe when you’re going to be in your prime. If you keep yourself in shape –- Ronaldo and Messi have proven that. I’ve still got a little bit to go.”

The J-League Best 11 award winner will be joined by Yokohama F. Marinos’s Theerathon Bunmathan, the Thai captain, and Oita Trinita’s Thitiphan Puangchan in the four-team event, which also includes Uruguay and Uzbekistan.

China dashed the War Elephants’ hopes of reaching the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup in January, winning the last-16 game in the United Arab Emirates 2-1.

“I want to win this time after we were hurt by that loss in Asian Cup,” said 25-year-old midfielder Chanatip.

“Beating them on their home soil should feel even better but the Chinese team is getting stronger and stronger. We have to help each other to achieve this task.”

Injuries and sickness have caused a series of withdrawals from the team.

Ace striker Teerasil Dangda, who has an ankle injury, is one of six players missing the exhibition event but Chanathip is not worried about the absence of some key players.

“This is still one of the best teams we have at the moment. Everyone wants to perform at their best for the country. We will take his opportunity to prove ourselves,” he said.

Thitiphan, 25, hopes to benefit from his experience with one of the top leagues in Asia. The midfielder joined his first J-League  side, Oita, in February and helped his side to win three out of their first four games, including a 2-0 home win over Yogohama F Marinos last week.

“I have lost three kilos and have been in great shape due to intensive training in Japan,” said Thitiphan, who has been part of the national team since 2013.

“I hope to make use of what I’ve learned in Japan to help our team.”

Sirisak Yodyadthai

Interim coach Sirisak Yodyadthai is also relaxed about the lack of key strikers Teerasil and rising star Supachai Jaided, who has commitments with the under-23 team.

“I’m more concerned about building teamwork. Good comprehension is what I want to create in the team,” said Sirisak, who has been acting coach since the Asian Cup.

“But I’m positive that they will bring good results. I want to see the young players step up a notch as there are more important events waiting them.”.