Leicester players will fly to Thailand for funeral of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha to honour tragic owner
A week-long ceremony will be held for Foxes owner Srivaddhanaprabha in Bangkok following his tragic death in helicopter crash and stars want to be there to show their respect
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LEICESTER players will make a 12,000-mile round trip to Bangkok next week to attend the funeral of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.
Boss Claude Puel is set to lead his team on an emotional pilgrimage by flying out straight after tomorrow’s game at Cardiff.
Senior players told Puel they wanted to be at their late owner’s week-long funeral ceremony in Thailand, which begins tomorrow.
The Frenchman said: “I want to give the opportunity for players and staff to go to the funeral. We will see the logistics.
“Of course, the players want to go and support his family — his wife, son Top, all the family.
“They put us in their family and that was a special thing about him. The players travelled to Dubai and other places to have good moments with Vichai. For him the players were his children, his family.
“Sometimes he was not happy with their game but he would forgive them!”
Leicester are due to host their first home game since the weekend’s helicopter tragedy when Burnley visit next Saturday.
The Foxes’ Carabao Cup fourth-round tie against Southampton on Tuesday was postponed as the Air Accidents Investigation Bureau continued to examine the cause of the crash which claimed five lives.
That game has now been rearranged for Tuesday, November 27, leaving next week free for the Leicester players to make the marathon trip.
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It is understood the Foxes squad were told the club would request a postponement of the Cardiff game if anyone felt unable to play.
But to a man, the players — many of whom have taken counselling in the aftermath of the crash — declared they were ready to play.
Puel added: “It was important we all shared the same feeling. We have a lot of responsibility now to give our best and to continue his work and his dream.
“We will play now for him and for his family.
“Playing football has not been at the front of our minds this week. But for this weekend, and all the matches thereafter, we will play to honour and remember a man who did so much for our club.”