PHNOM PENH: Kasidej Vasunan, known by his familiar nickname, “Dome,” joined the academy team of the second division Spanish professional football club Real Oviedo after leaving the renowned La Liga Academy.
Puth Thyda, who is Dome’s mother and also president of the professional football club Boeung Ket in Cambodia, spoke to Khmer Times in an exclusive interview on Saturday.
She said that the 16-year-old Dome agreed to a one-year deal with Real Oviedo’s academy team, with the possibility of extensions.
According to Thyda, playing for a top team like Real Oviedo is a step toward becoming a professional football player. She mentioned that three clubs, including the renowned Atlético Madrid are keen on signing Dome.
But Thyda said that because Atlético Madrid is probably too big a club for him, he probably would not get any playing time.
“We chose Real Oviedo so that he could spend a year there for this reason. Because we think he can advance professionally and swiftly in Spain,” said Thyda.
“I am happy for him to be where he is as a mother. He has done his best, but it is not an easy route for him. I am just glad to see him keep getting better,” she added.
The teenager showing his professional contract with the Spanish club.
Dome has always loved football. The midfielder was born to a Cambodian mother and a Thai father, but his dream has always been to play for the Cambodian national football team. He explained that he spends more time in Cambodia than in Thailand. So, he decided to represent Cambodia.
Dome officially debuted in July at the Aseab U-16 Boys’ Championship 2024 in Indonesia with the Cambodian U16 national football team.
His skills led him to be selected through a rigorous process and he earned a football scholarship to train at the Laliga Academy in 2022. He’s one of the few Cambodians to study football on a Spanish academy team.
Kasidej Vasunan in traning at the La Liga Academy.
At the La Liga Academy, Dome trained with other young, talented athletes from all over the world on the U17 squad of the Spanish academy until the middle of this year.
La Liga has launched a new global initiative called the academy with the goal of assisting, promoting and expanding grassroots football globally.
La Liga Academy is structured around four pillars: football, education, entertainment, and the exclusive “Laliga experience.” It provides a range of activities tailored for young athletes based on global experiences.
Players live, practice, and compete in the same way as any other La Liga youth club or professional player, and La Liga’s training and competitive programmes are tailored to each age group and skill level. The academy offers training programmes in more than 38 countries across five continents.