Behold the new-look Wild Boers soccer team

Their story had gripped global audiences. They were trapped in utter darkness in a Thailand cave complex for over two weeks before they were rescued by divers and other cave experts. They were then hospitalised after which they were declared fit to go home.

Now, eleven members of the Wild Boars soccer team and their 25-year-old coach, Ekapol Chanthawong, were ordained as Buddhist novices and monk respectively on Wednesday in memory of a volunteer diver who died during their rescue.

The twelfth member of the team was not part of the ceremony as he is a Christian and believes that he was protected by God and not by a Buddhist spirit.

The emotionally-charged ceremony was broadcast live on Facebook by local authorities.