THE CAMP KIETSOMPHOB
THE CAMP KIETSOMPHOB
Special report by Serge TREFEU (2011)
The Kietsomphob camp is a small authentic camp, lost in the countryside in the depths of the South of the Thailand. He is in a village to 15 km of Nakhon Si Thammarat, a big city of the South. This camp, situated at the edge of a road, is really typical. Around the camp, there are buffaloes which graze of the grass quietly, the hens which cavort and stray dogs…
The infrastructure of the camp is ageing and the installations are simple but functional. Certain body-building devices are tinkered with big stones by way of weight, the traditional balls leather punchball are replaced by balls of Sepak Takraw (wicker Ball of games Sepak Takraw, a national sport practised in Thailand). Here it is untangles her, as many of the small camp of province, the money misses cruelly…
Kietsomphob was created at the beginning of 2000s by a former boxer, an enthusiast of boxing who is called Wanakaï Somphobrungrueang (Somphob Labtammachart), he is at once a trainer and a manager in his camp. The name of the camp makes reference to its fighter’s name. Wanakai is assisted by his brother Dentorrane Davee, the former champion of the South in 118 lbs which is a trainer in the camp today. Dentorrane fought in the stadium of Radja a lot where he beat champions as Kwanchai SamK-battery and Wangwot Lookprabaht.
The boss Mr Labtammachart is very proud to receive me in his camp. It is the first time when a foreigner comes to make a report on his small camp. He details me each of his pupils with attention, ” look he it is the smallest of the camp, he is only 5 years old, it is young but her mother wants absolutely that he learns the muay thai “. Indeed, the mother of the young nakmuay accompanies every day her offspring in the training, she owes based a lot of hope on the success of her child. ” I also have a girl in my camp, she comes of begun the training there is a few weeks ” the boss says to me him has me of it showing. He indicates me another boxer, ” Him have 12 years he has already made 50 fights with 40 victories, he is very good, in a few years he will fight in Lumpinee, it is sure he will be a champion “, expert’s word…
But the best boxer of the camp at present it is Sitthichai Kietsomphob, he has about twenty year and gained champion’s belt of the South in 118 lbs. Sittichai fights now only in big stadium of Bangkok, he beat good fighters as Sirimongkhon P. K. Sterio, Wanchailek Kiatphukham, Phetdam Sitboonmee and Yodpet Wor Sungprapai. He gets at the moment 40 000-baht of purse what is good for a fighter of a camp of province.
Eight years ago, Kietsomphob had of great fighter for Yokao Kietsomphob (3 times champion of the South 120lbs), Mangkonyok Somphobrungrueang (3 times champion of the South in 115 lbs) and Komkaï Kietsomphob (4 times champion of the South in 115 lbs)!
Today, the camp counts only eight boxers who have between new and sixteen years. Just two boxers sleep in the camp, the others live at their parent’s a few kilometers away from the camp. They are very poor and have no means to buy itself the daily route in “Rotsongtheaw” (local bus). Then they come with a hurdy-gurdy motorcycle piled up in four tops!
The training is twice made a day, in the morning nakmuay runs 10 km and after noon 6 km. The rounds of paos are of 5 minutes and the session of clinch lasts 45 minutes. The boxers make so many punch bag, 7 in 8 rounds. The training is hard and the rough conditions but the small warriors are entitled to a reward after their effort. Before leaving at home, they can go to play free of charge the video games in the cyberpub which is just next to the camp. The cyberpub belongs to the sister of the owner of the Kietsomphob.
Except for some adventurers of the Muay Thai, practically no foreigner came to train in this rudimentary camp. An American fighter came for two weeks and four Swedish stayed one month. They had rented a house a few kilometers away from the camp. For a foreigner the price is derisory, only 200 bahts for two trainings a day. Wanakaï will welcome you warmly in his camp, this man fascinated by boxing, contrary to the others, is proud to pass on his knowledge in “farangs” (foreign)…
