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Soccer Field

Aerial view of the new soccer field cut into the forest: a bare sand pitch with goal markings, a fence along one side and a blue-roofed shelter

Against everyone's expectation that it would take a year or two, the island's new soccer field went up quickly in early 2025 once the rains passed. Even before the grass was planted the first matches drew twelve teams, and the Moken's own "SeaLight" side came first. Wud, Philip's eldest foster son, sees the field as a platform to reach young people with the Good News.

In January 2026 bathrooms and a road to the field were built, and the erosion from the previous season was repaired. As Philip put it, that left "just the challenge of the grass". From 27 June to 3 July 2026 a Global Challenge team of fourteen from Jeffreys Bay, South Africa, was on the island and helped finish the field, spending precious time with the Moken along the way.

The field is complete and in use. In October 2026 Wud organised a football event there, the Phayam Cup 2026. He did everything by himself, and it was a huge success.

To support the wider work, tell us you'd like to help through the support page, mention the reference Algemeen, and we'll reply personally with the details.

Photo Gallery

A small white bathroom block beside the sandy soccer field, with the tall white poles for the perimeter netting
The newly built dirt road to the soccer field, running beside a stream through the bush under a clear blue sky
The Global Challenge team of fourteen and Moken children sharing an evening meal around a long table
A Phayam Cup 2026 banner on the fence of the soccer field while young men play football behind it, motorbikes parked in front
Wide view across a grassy field to the fenced soccer pitch during the Phayam Cup, with canopies, tents, parked motorbikes and spectators
Two young men planting grass on a quarter of the bare red-earth soccer field in July 2025, one working the soil with a small tiller while the other plants by hand, with the tall net poles, a goal and forest behind
Young players in two kits contesting the ball in midfield on the now-grassed soccer field, seen through the perimeter net, on the day of the Phayam Cup
Wud's team, five young men, most in pink-and-black 'Teamwork' kits and one in a dark purple kit, holding the gold Phayam Cup trophy in front of a goal and the tournament banner

In the timeline

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