Bangkok: The ball slipped through Alexander Kreps' hands. Rotten luck, since his team Mexico was leading by one goal. But he would have plenty of time to think about his mistake.
Serving a 16-year sentence for drug trafficking, Kreps is one of 190 inmates participating in The World Cup Behind Bars, organized by Thailand's Ministry of Justice to coincide with the actual World Cup kicking off in South Africa on Friday.
At Bangkok's Klong Prem Central Prison, 16 teams of seven players will be battling on a muddy pitch, hoping to lift a World Cup replica trophy after the month-long tournament.
The tournament "is an opportunity for our foreign inmates to strengthen their physical and mental health," said Justice Minister Peerapan Salirathwipak. "We want to help make it easier for them to reintegrate."
For Kreps, the game was fun although he would have liked to get a better result. His team drew 1-1.
"This is just not my day. But I sure as hell had great fun," the 51-year-old Kreps said. During the 20-minute soccer game, Kreps made several key saves against a pressing South Africa side.
Authorities hope the event, which was staged during the last two World Cups, will also improve the image of Klong Prem, nicknamed the "Bangkok Hilton" by ex-prisoners who have described its notorious living conditions inside.
The tournament is a way to illustrate how prisoners are treated respectfully, said Thanis Sriyaphan, deputy director general of the Department of Corrections. "We observe the human rights code of conduct. Prisoners are given chances to study and improve themselves with discipline," he said.
The spectators at the tournament were raucous in their support and some 70 prison guards were laughing and smiling. There were even cheerleaders, albeit a group of transvestite prisoners posed for journalists in front of flags and a World Cup logo hand-painted on a wall.
They were recruited for the tournament, proud and wearing heavy makeup. Dancer Panattawi Srivilai, 30, traveled all the way from Chiang Rai Central Prison in northern Thailand for the event.
"I can express myself here," he said. "I love the atmosphere and would like to be transferred here."
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