I'm not going to be updatung this blog anymore because I am no longer based in Phuket.

I am following Thai football closely and am still in contact with lots of people connected to FC Phuket and if I get any news I will probably publish it on twitter:

www.twitter.com/jamesgoyder

FC Phuket announce new signings

With the Division One season rapidly approaching a massive overhaul of the FC Phuket squad has already begun. Amongst the new arrivals are two from the Ivory Coast, former Thai Port striker Koné Adama who has been signed from Sisaket and Muangthong United midfielder Coulibaly Abdoul, a defensive midfielder.

Paulo Renato Sizino do Nascimento, a Brazilian striker, also arrives from Hungarian football along with a handful of Thai players.

New FC Phuket manager announced

The new FC Phuket manager will be Surachai Jirasirichote. The defender played in Thailand and Singapore and was capped 55 times by the Thai national team.

FC Phuket vs Muangthong Utd

FC Phuket are playing a friendly with Muangthong United on January 26th, kick off 6pm. Both sides have been extremely busy in the transfer market and it will be a chance to see several new signings in action.

Rene Desaeyere sacked

Coach of the year Rene Desaeyere was surprisingly sacked by Thai Premier League champions Muangthong United yesterday.

Muangthong United have a partnership with FC Phuket and loaned the Souther Sea Kirin several players last season. They have sold several players in recent weeks and made numerous signing and it is possible disagreements over transfer policy might have precipitated Desaeyere's departure.

Arjan Songsamssub to leave FC Phuket

PHUKET: The dust may have barely settled on FC Phuket’s dramatic promotion to Thai League Division 1 last month, but it appears the honeymoon may well be over.

It will be all change at Sarakul Stadium when the new season kicks off on February 12 as it has been confirmed that last season’s manager Arjan Songsamssub will not take charge of the team for the 2011 campaign, while four star players will leave for new clubs.

Mr Arjan, who masterminded Phuket’s rise from bottom of Division 2 to promotion to Division 1 in just 12 months, is not completely parting company with the club.

He will stay on as a consultant for three months, helping with the recruitment of a new manager, before leaving for Spain to take part in a coaches development course with Atletico Madrid.

The identity of the new manager is not yet known, but FC Phuket Secretary Sorranan Sanae has told the Gazette the new man is likely to be someone who has worked closely with Mr Arjan.

There was further bad news for the team's fans this week with the announcement that four heroes from last season will not be donning the green jersey come February 12.

FC Buriram – who defeated Phuket in the Division 2 playoff final in Bangkok last week – have pinched the services of Adisak Kaisorn and Chachis Rawanprakorn.

Another massive blow for FC Phuket is that two of last year’s loan stars – Ivory coast duo Diarra Ali and Nene Bi Tra Sylvestre – have also moved on.

Ali is moving to Thai Premier League side Muangthong United, while it is not yet known who Nene Bi will sign for.

In other, brighter news for Phuket, Mr Sorranan has confirmed that players from Brazil and Korea are set to join the club to replace those on the way out.

Details of the new signings will be released at an FC Phuket meeting on Monday.

Meanwhile, the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organization (OrBorJor) is set to provide 10 million baht towards FC Phuket’s assault on Thai League Division 1.

The rest of the money needed will be raised from sponsorship, with the team’s main sponsor for the new season set to be confirmed at Monday’s meeting.

Buriram 1-0 FC Phuket

FC Phuket's final match of the season was utterly meaningless from a footballing point of view but there was a significant amount of prize money at stake.

It was also an interesting encounter because Buriram are linked with Buriram PEA and FC Phuket are linked with Muangthong Thing United.

Muangthong and Buriram PEA are the two main rivals in the Thai Premier League and a number of players on show were loaned out from these clubs.

In the end it was Buriram who prevailed after scoring the only goal of the game.

Fc Phuket 2 Samut Prakarn 1

FC Phuket came from behind to win courtesy of two second half goals from Thawin Butrasombat. The result ensures that the Southern Sea Kirin will be playing first division football next season.

Promotion...

I believe that FC Phuket only need a draw against Samut Prakharn to guarantee promotion.

FC Phuket have a better head to head record and I am under the impression (although not 100% confirmed) that head to head takes precedence over goal difference.

If this is the case than, due to FC Phuket's superior head to head record against Rayong, a point would guarantee second spot in the group.

FC Phuket 2-0 Rayong

Two goals from player of the season Diarra Ali, the first a penalty, give FC Phuket a 2-0 win against Rayong.

FC Phuket now need a win in their final home game against Samut Prakan on Christmas day ti guarantee promotion to Division One.

4pm Kick Off tomorrow...

Tomorrow's game will be kicking off at 4pm, not 6pm as previously advertized.

FC Phuket vs Rayong 19/12/10
Surakul Stadium
KO 4pm

FC Phuket vs Rayong on Sunday

FC Phuket have a make or break home game against Rayong on Sunday. The Southern Sea Kirin slipped to third in the Division Two Playoff Table after last week’s disappointing defeat against Chainat.

They are only a point behind the visitors Rayong and a win would leave FC Phuket in prime position to qualify whereas a loss could effectively end their prospects of promotion to Division One, depending on whether Chainat also win.

Arjan Songsamssub’s side have been imperious in front of their home fans this season and six points from the remaining two home game will be enough to secure promotion to Division One.

The club stand at something of a crossroads and if they fail to gain promotion Songsamssub, who has transformed the team’s fortunes, is likely to leave for new pastures. The players have demonstrated that they are far too good to remain in the regional divisions and star performers such as midfielder Diarra Ali will probably move on if FC Phuket do not gain promotion.

The match is scheduled to take place at the Surakul Stadium, kick off 6pm with tickets available for as little as 50 Baht.

League table courtesy of Thai League Football

Chainat 3-1 FC Phuket

Disappointing result but Rayong only drew meaning that FC Phuket are now third, a point behind Rayong and Chainat.

The top two teams are promoted meaning that if FC Phuket can win their last two games which are at home to Rayong and Samut Prakarn they will definitely make it into division one.

FC Phuket 2-0 Bangkok

FC Phuket are on course for promotion to Division One after defeating Bangkok FC 2-0 courtesy of goals from Sarach Yooyen and Poramut Krongborisut.

Loei City 0-0 FC Phuket

FC Phuket 2-1 Loei City

Full match report to follow...

Football Trials in Bangkok

info courtesy of: www.thaileaguefootball.com

Bangkok FC 1-1 FC Phuket

FC Phuket drew 1-1 away to Bangkok FC in the Division Two Champion's League on Saturday. It was the first match for the Southern Sea Kirin since their Ivory Coast midfielder Camara Ahmed suffered a heart attack during the game against Chairat last Saturday.

Camara is still in a coma although there were some signs of improvement on Friday when he opened his eyes for the first time since collapsing on the pitch at Surakul Stadium.

FC Phuket supporter's all wore white t-shirts with Camara's image printed on them and 5,400 Baht was raised which will go towards his medical costs.

The team lined up before kick off wearing the t-shirts and Camara’s brother was introduced to the crowd which contained a large contingent of African’s who had been asked to attend in tribute to the stricken star.

Teenage striker Adisak Kraisorn gave FC Phuket the lead with a simple finish after 31 minutes. Sarach Yooyen and Tawin Butrasombat combined well on the right hand side and Butrasombat unleashed a powerful drive which Bangkok FC goalkeeper Bayongon Bounde could only parry into the path of the onrushing Adisak.

FC Phuket's home form has been poor and the 50 or so fans who had made the trip to Bangkok were hoping that the defence could hold out for another 45 minutes to give the team a vital away win.

It was not to be as man of the match Jirat Kinkkrodklang grabbed a brilliant equalizer for the home side after 72 minutes. His free kick from the edge of the penalty area curled over the wall and into the top right hand corner of the net leaving the hapless FC Phuket goalkeeper Safari Nansen rooted to the spot.

At the conclusion of the match fans lit candles in a vigil for Camara who remains in a stable condition in Vachira Hospital in Phuket Town.

In other results Samut Prakarn beat Loei City 2-1 and Chainat drew 2-2 with Rayong to leave Group A looking wide open. Considering that they already have three away games under their belt and have only played once at Surakul Stadium FC Phuket will be confident that they can push on and secure one of the top two places and promotion to Division One.

For other results visit: Thai League Football

Camara Ahmed latest

Here is the latest news from the Phuket Gazette website today:

PHUKET: Teammates of FC Phuket player Camara Ahmed were today camped at out at Bangkok Hospital Phuket, where the star midfielder remains in intensive care after suffering cardiac arrest during Saturday night’s 1-0 playoff win over Chainat FC.

FC Phuket advisor Paitoon Chutimakornkul told the Gazette this afternoon that expert care by staff at the hospital’s Cardiac Care Unit kept the Ivory Coast player alive after he stopped breathing while being transported from the ambulance to the hospital's Cardiac Care Unit.

Noting that he has been suffering periodic convulsions, Mr Paitoon estimated Mr Ahmed's chances of survival at 50%.

Mr Ahmed in one of three Ivory Coast players on the team on loan from Thai Premier League defending champions Muangthong United FC.

He has been a stalwart of the team during its rise to win the Division 2 South crown and its qualification for the playoffs for promotion to Division 1.

Mr Paitoon describes him as a great and very diligent player.

He suggested Mr Ahmed’s heart problems may have stemmed from stress brought on by the must-win nature of the match, possibly combined with lack of rest and his habit of not eating rice or other carbohydrates prior to competition.

Phuket Provincial Administration Organization President Paiboon Upatising was one of the many people who came to the hospital this afternoon to add his name to the growing list of signatures of people signing a guest book wishing Mr Ahmed the fastest possible recovery.

Mr Paiboon, who is also FC Phuket’s honorary president, said Mr Ahmed’s mother back in the Ivory Coast has been informed of his condition and is expected to travel to Phuket to assist in his care.

Team administrator Kazi Hans this morning told the Gazette that despite Mr Ahmed’s serious condition, changes in his breathing patterns when people he knows enter the room suggest he may have at least partial consciousness.

However, he has still been unable to open his eyes or speak since his collapse onto the turf in the second half of the the match at Surakul Stadium on Saturday night, she said.

You can view the original story on the Phuket Gazette website: here

FC Phuket's Camara Ahmed suffers heart attack during game

UPDATE:

Camara Ahmed is in a coma and his life is hanging in the balance.


FC Phuket's 1-0 win over Chairat was marred by a heart attack to midfielder Camara Ahmed (right).

The Ivory Coast midfielder, who is on loan from Muangthong United, collapsed during the second half of the game and was resuscitated by the Chairat physio. He is currently in intensive care in Bangkok Hospital in Phuket.

Camara has been almost ever present in the heart of the FC Phuket midfield this season. the team won Division Two (Southern Section) comfortably and are on track to gain promotion to Division One through the play offs.

Thawin Butrasombat, who was signed from Chaiyapum United in May, scored the only goal of the game with a header after 52 minutes. Chairat were top of the group with two wins from their opening two games and this was a vital win for the Southern Sea Kirin, who had drawn both their play off matches to date.

According to manager Arjan Songssamsub the players were too worried about Camara's suspected heart attack to celebrate this important win,

"I am happy we won but I am more concerned about the health of Camara. he has never had any sort of problem like this in the past and this has come as a surprise. He is in hospital but we are not able to visit him yet," he said.

You can see Camara scoring a brilliant long range goal away to Satun Utd in August here: youtube