Positives of players’ Thailand trip and tributes will outweigh the negatives

THERE may be some who questioned Leicester City’s decision to travel to Thailand immediately after their game in Cardiff on Saturday to pay tribute to late chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.

The 12,000-mile round trip may test the skills of the sports scientists. It may take a toll on the City players and hamper their preparations before Saturday’s visit of Burnley to the King Power Stadium.

However, the positives will certainly outweigh the negatives.

The focus for some may be on the physical condition of the players, but the trip will have provided a huge psychological boost for Claude Puel’s men, and not just the players who will take to the pitch.

The players were all given the choice of whether or not to go and those who chose to do so did it willingly.

They saw it as an opportunity to show support and solidarity, not just to Khun Vichai’s son, Aiyawatt, his widow and other children, but also to the rest of the King Power employees, an estimated 10,000 of them.

The tragedy at the King Power Stadium that claimed the lives of Khun Vichai’s and four others has affected everyone deeply, more than maybe they ever imagined. We have heard the words of some of the players, including Jamie Vardy, Demarai Gray, Kasper Schmeichel and Andy King, explaining how much Vichai had meant to them and how much his death has impacted on the squad and the club.

The desire to pay their respects by

flying to Thailand will have done them good mentally as they continue the healing process after such a shocking tragedy.

Their presence in Bangkok at two of the Buddhist ceremonies that were part of the seven-day funeral ceremonies for Khun Vichai will also have been well received not just by the Srivaddhanaprabha family, but also the employees of King Power and the Thai people.

The word “family’’ has been used a lot in the last 10 days. We saw it when the players called all the backroom staff on to the pitch in Cardiff. That poignant moment demonstrated the family unit within the camp.

The unity with the travelling supporters at the end of the game showed their connection with the Blue Army and that will be seen tenfold on Saturday at the King Power Stadium.

Their trip to Thailand demonstrated to the Thai people and wider King Power community that they are part of the City family, too.