The four Cambodian children and organisers boarding the flight to London. - Supplied
PHNOM PENH (Phnom Penh Post/Asia News Network): Four Cambodian children will arrive in the UK to accompany Tottenham Hotspur players onto the pitch in their May 20 Premiere League match against Brentford FC. The children, two girls and two boys aged from 11 to 13, have flown from Phnom Penh to London to make their appearance at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The organisers of the once-in-a-lifetime event, Indochina Starfish Foundation (ISF), described the four as sports ambassadors for the organisation.
“This is the first trip abroad that any of these four young people have ever taken, as they are all from impoverished families. Now, they have passports and visas, and will board an aircraft for the first time in their young lives,” said Chuob Vicheka, executive director of ISF Cambodia.
She explained that the four children had dropped out of school at early ages to work and earn incomes to support their families. Thanks to ISF, they have re-entered the school system and were now pursuing their educations at public school.
She said the cost of their flights and accommodation were being met through sponsorship by an insurance company.
They used to play football on a grassy field in their village, and now they will run onto the hallowed ground of a world class English Premier League Pitch. This is something many young people around the world have dreamt of, but few have experienced.
