Wigan, England, (Reuters) – With his four-wheel drive  BMW in the car park, his four-bedroom house nearby, fashionable  training shoes and clothes, Hendry Thomas has come a long way  from a childhood where money, if not food, was in short supply.

It is clear, from spending a few moments in his company,  that his background was a long, long way from his current  position of wealth and fame.

Now Wigan’s defensive midfielder will represent Honduras in  their first World Cup for 28 years in South Africa next month  with group games against Chile, Switzerland and European  champions Spain.

Thomas, with mature features that belie his 25 years, has  arrived on the world stage following eight years at local club  Olimpia, where he made his debut as a 16-year-old. He did not  offer detail, but his childhood was clearly tough.

“We had a certain level of poverty but we always had food  and never starved,” said Thomas in Spanish, via an interpreter  at the training ground of his English team Wigan, while sitting  next to his club and Honduras team mate Maynor Figueroa.

“I didn’t play football as a way out (of the poverty). I  played football first and foremost because I loved the game and  enjoyed the opportunity to play as a kid.

“Although I wouldn’t go as far to say I am a millionaire,  yes, football has given my family a better existence.”

ROUGH TIME

Asked what material effect his new-found financial rewards  have afforded his family back home like expensive cars or a  bigger house, Thomas either sidestepped the inquiry or the  question was literally lost in translation.

But he did acknowledge: “It’s nice to be able to look after  my family now.”

The Honduran people have had a rough time in recent years,  with floods that caused destruction in 2008.

The Central American country of less than 8 million people  is said to have half of its population below the poverty line  but a rare World Cup appearance will no doubt bring some pride  and cheer.

Honduras met Spain in their World Cup debut and managed a  1-1 draw against the 1982 tournament hosts but finished last in  their group.

Thomas, whose game mirrors that of former France World Cup winner Claude Makelele — famous for breaking up opposition  attacks and starting new ones for his own team — is upbeat  about the challenge.

The Group H clash against Spain in Johannesburg on June 21  will be especially meaningful for its cultural significance.

Thomas admitted there is still a Spanish feel about  Honduras, which was under Spanish rule for over 300 years.

“We are probably one of the less fancied teams in that group  but it doesn’t mean to say that we don’t fancy ourselves (to  win). We think we have a chance.

“It’s not that we don’t respect our opponents but we don’t  fear them.

“I suppose the main objective first of all against Spain is  to stop them from playing and put a break on their tactics but  that doesn’t mean we cannot make a nuisance of ourselves and  hurt them on the counter.”

Thomas is hoping that one of Spain’s most dangerous players,  striker Fernando Torres, is fully fit for the tournament after  undergoing knee surgery. There was an honest feel to the answer  — even if it was delivered with a wide smile.

Honduras will boast a big name of their own in Wilson  Palacios, who was sold from Wigan to Tottenham last year for  about 12 million pounds ($17.93 million), though Thomas says the  team’s main strength is their togetherness.

Expect panache also.

Thomas’s first World Cup memories are of Romario, Dunga and  the free-flowing Brazilians when they won the World Cup in 1994.  Honduras, it seems, are seeking a similar method.

“What you will notice about us is that we play football in  an entertaining way, we like to entertain the fans and I think  we play a skilful brand of football.

“No matter who we play against you will see that we do try  to enjoy our game. Tactically we might differ depending on the  opposition but the main ethic is to go out and entertain.”