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BANGKOK: The funeral of Thai owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, Thai owner of Leicester City, kicked off on Saturday night at a Buddhist temple in Bangkok, as members of the Thai political and business elite came to pay homage to the billionaire.
Number two of the Thai junta Prawit Wongsuwan and Dhanin Chearavan of the CP group, the richest man in the country, were seen arriving at the week-long ceremony which began with three days of sponsored bathing rites by royalty.
VIPs from the Thai music and sports scene were also present to pay homage to the life of 60-year-old Vichai, who died with four other people in a helicopter crash shortly after leaving the football club's pitch. A week ago.
The tragic end stunned the Thais who had followed Vichai's success as a fairy tale and the days that followed were filled with heartfelt comments from admirers, footballers, friends and relatives.
"He is now the leader of Thai football and world football because he has changed a lot when he assumed the presidency of Leicester City," said Thai football legend Kiatisuk "Zico" in Senamuang. AFP outside the ceremony, his dark tone.
"Because Leicester can show that he could be champion of the Premier League, that's why everything that happens in Thailand can happen in the future."
Vichai, which had only one store in Bangkok, now owned the royalty-free King Power empire, whose stores are ubiquitous at Thailand's major tourist airports.
Using the profits of his monopoly, he bought Leicester City and helped turn them from an innocuous English club into surprise winners of the Premier League title in 2016.
Despite his entrepreneurial spirit, Vichai owed his rise to the careful navigation of Thailand's unpredictable policy and powerbrokers.
His ties with the monarchy were reflected in the name of his company and in the act of the ancient king to royally give a surname (Srivaddhanaprabha) which translates as "a propitious and prosperous light".
& # 39; Honor his name & # 39;
The private funerals at Wat Thepsirin have royal touches, with an octagonal urn among the items donated by the king and court musicians playing drums and flutes.
After bathing rites, Buddhist monks will recite prayers extracted from religious texts. The body will be kept 100 days before cremation, although no date has been set.
Dressed in an official white uniform, Prawit, who is also the defense minister, could be seen in images later released by King Power who poured water on flowers during the ceremony.
Leicester team members, including coach Claude Puel, must travel to Thailand to pay their respect, after an emotional afternoon game against Cardiff City, which they have won 1-0 on Saturday.
"We've all talked about … wanting to play, that's what Vichai would have wanted and that's what we're going to do," said striker Jamie Vardy. Sky sports, adding that they "would honor his name" with their performances.
Vardy, goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel and captain Wes Morgan are expected to travel to Thailand with Puel and his executives.
Vichai leaves behind a wife and four children, two sons and two daughters.
All five are on the board of directors of King Power, which faces an uncertain future.
Vichai's youngest son, Aiyawatt – better known by his nickname "Top" – said in an Instagram post this week that his father "has left an inheritance to continue and that I will do everything in my power." my power to pursue his great vision and his dreams ".
The other four victims of the accident were identified by British police as Nursara Suknamai – an actress and finalist in Miss Thailand Universe in 2005 – and Kaveporn Punpare, two Vichai staff members, pilot Eric Swaffer and the co-pilot Izabela Roza Lechowicz. – AFP
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