PATTAYA MAIL
Pattaya Mail Established in 1993
PATTAYA MAIL FRIDAY 14 MAY -24 MAY 2001
Man U star Eric Cantona visits Pattaya
France’s National Beach Football Team plays on Larn Island
Eric Cantona, formerly a star on the French National football team and a leading player with Manchester United, visited in Pattaya last week as part of the French National Beach Football Team’s tour of the area. The group was in Pattya from May 8-10.
Accompanying the superstar were 12 members on the French national beach soccer team, who played in the “Tipco Pro-Beach Soccer Bangkok 2001” competition in Muang Thong Thani on May 12.
Pattaya’s mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat and a crowd of fans welcomed the players to Pattaya at City Hall and presented them with the key to the city. Cantona presented a jersey in return.
Visiting members of the French national beach soccer team included Joel Cantona, Pascal Olmeta, Clade Barabe, Paul Squaglia, Thiery Ottavy, Vincent Guerin, Lautent Fournier, Bruno Germain, Frank Bonora, Kader Ferhaoui, Bernard Pascual and Mamadou Faye.
The footballers toured the area in a cavalcade from the Million Years Stone Park down PAttaya Beach Road. Later that evening, the Thai House Restaurant hosted a dinner party for the players and treated them to a show of Thai boxing and traditional entertainment.
The following day the footballers visited Larn Island’s Thien Beach for some rest and an exhibition game against Pattaya’s V.I.P Team and former players from the Thai National Team.
