Humor

When Coach Ake was about 10 there was a terrible virus that went through his village and killed many including his parents and his seven year old brother, leaving him alone with just an Aunt and Uncle who could not take him in.

As is the custom in Northern Thailand orphaned boys can go to the temple where they are "novice" monks and get free room, board and undertake initial monk training while they get a basic education.

In the West we often think that all monks are sweet and generous in spirit like the Dali Lama but that is not always the case. Some monks, who are still good monks, are stern. Ake was known as not only being a good novice but someone who is very empathetic, especially with children. The Abbot at his temple was interviewed and thought that Ake had a particularly sweet disposition towards children because of the loss of his brother at a young age.

When I first saw Ake interviewed I thought he was one of the older boys. While he is 25 his voice sounds more like a 15 year old than a 25 year old. He has the spirit of a youngster in many ways, although he is clearly mature as well.

Ake is the "assistant" coach for the team. He is an unpaid volunteer and the head coach had a competing commitment so wasn't at the practice.

Most of the players are from extremely poor families (one was dropped off as an infant at a Christian School to be raised their by parents that couldn't afford to raise another child).

When Ake saw that the players were more committed to football than to their studies he promised them that if they improved their grades they would get shoes, clothes and eventually a bike. He then went businesses in the area and got donations for the kids.

He used his meditation from his many years in the temple to keep the kids calm and slow their metabolism. The slept close together to conserve warmth.

So yes his training as a novice monk gave him skills that made a huge difference in the team surviving.