KUNINGAN — Imane Thailand is looking beyond a conventional sponsorship deal with Proton FC. The partnership is being positioned as a long-term football development project, with opportunities for Proton’s players, coaches and support staff to gain experience and training in Thailand and potentially Europe.
Imane Thailand owner Takkasit Tai Jittivanich said his first impression of Proton was the sense of family within the club.
“When I come to Proton, I feel like family,” Takkasit said, Friday (14/8/2026).
He also praised the atmosphere around the club and the people involved in Proton. More importantly, after watching the team play, he said he saw considerable potential among young footballers in West Java.
“I can see the potential of the West Java kids and all the school,” he said.
Takkasit believes the basic foundation at Proton is already in place. What the club needs now, he said, is continued development and stronger support to help its young players reach a higher level.
“The foundation is there, but it needs to be pushed. Everything needs to get better,” he said.
The first level of Imane’s support will come through the provision of Proton’s apparel. All jerseys, equipment and products used by the players both on and off the court will be supplied by Imane.
But the partnership is not limited to apparel.
Imane also plans to contribute to Proton’s academy by sharing its knowledge and experience in player development.
“We will try to bring our knowledge to the kids, make them improve. Hopefully, one day they’re going to be the Indonesia national team,” Takkasit said.
The opportunity for knowledge exchange will also extend to Proton’s coaching and support teams.
Takkasit said coaches, players, physical trainers and physiotherapists could be given the opportunity to travel to Thailand and learn from Imane’s football development system.
“Coaches, players, even the physical and physio teams can go to Thailand and learn what we know so far,” he said.
The possibility could eventually extend beyond Thailand. Takkasit said Proton personnel could also be introduced to football development programs in other countries, including Europe.
“Not even Thailand, maybe Japan, maybe in Europe too,” he said.
For Takkasit, Proton was chosen not simply because of its current performance, but because of its vision.
He said Proton has the foundation and mindset to build something for the future. The club, in his view, is not solely focused on winning matches but on developing young players and creating opportunities for people in West Java.
“What I feel is they have the foundations, they have the mindset of the future,” Takkasit said.
“They know they want to do the long-term plan, not just the win, but to develop the kids, to develop the people of West Java.”
The partnership therefore carries a broader ambition: connecting Proton’s local youth development with international football knowledge.
Takkasit hopes the collaboration between Imane and Proton can eventually help West Java football move toward the targets it has set, while opening a pathway for its young players to reach the national stage. ***
