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Narjas Zatat
Jun 18, 2019
Picture:
Elsa/Getty and Twitter
The Thailand team may have lost against Sweden in the Fifa Women’s World Cup, but the manager’s tearful reaction when they scored a goal went viral, prompting people to highlight just what an incredible person she is.
Thailand lost to the with an abysmal 13-0 in its first group-stage match last Tuesday, so this second defeat, with Sweden winning 5-1, was a relief of sorts.
Nualphan Lamsam, also known as Madam Pang, was captured crying tears of joy from the bleachers as she watched her team score a goal minutes before the end.
Sweden scored four goals by second half injury-time and things were looking dire for the team.
And then Thailand’s Kanjana Sungngoen scored a goal – much to the delight of the stadium, and the coach.
Andrew Das, assistant editor at New York Times Sports was quick to point out that Lamsam isn’t just a "random Thai staff member".
Writing a Twitter thread about Madam Pang, he revealed: “She is arguably the most important figure in women's soccer in Thailand who doesn't play. She's the general manager of Thailand's women's team, and its greatest benefactor."
He went on to share her accolades:
She is also chief executive of one of Thailand's major insurance companies. @nytchangster shot this photograph of h… https://t.co/AETDWSs3GG— Andrew Das (@Andrew Das) 1560767546
Lamsam, 53, not only provides support for the Thai women's program, she also employs the players so they have incom… https://t.co/FqHIiJiGTJ— Andrew Das (@Andrew Das) 1560767643
When the USWNT hammered Thailand the other night, Lamsam led the players, some of them in tears, around the field t… https://t.co/Ki2BpRghKz— Andrew Das (@Andrew Das) 1560767756
She even gave a rousing team talk on the field before the Sweden game on Sunday. So you can imagine her emotions, i… https://t.co/rOjfjyXA0u— Andrew Das (@Andrew Das) 1560767874
Sometimes the goals all run together at a World Cup, but maybe take a minute today to appreciate that single one a… https://t.co/aUFAJ20OFt— Andrew Das (@Andrew Das) 1560768098
In response, football fans praised the manager and her team
@AndrewDasNYT Great respect for Ms. Nualphan Lamsam for providing jobs and paychecks for the women’s team so they can focus on soccer.— Ben (@Ben) 1560815882
@AndrewDasNYT Wonderful story!— Randy Mayeux (@Randy Mayeux) 1560812831
@AndrewDasNYT This is so beautiful 😭— Arisa Cox (@Arisa Cox) 1560820790
@AndrewDasNYT @jppalmCBS Great lesson. Thailand didn’t hang their heads or ask for sympathy. They PLAYED. You lea… https://t.co/6XBfcfC3vH— seanmcnamara (@seanmcnamara) 1560770604
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