The five fixtures which will decide FC Phuket’s promotional fate have been announced. Despite winning Division Two (Southern Section) comfortably the team still need to qualify from a play off group in order to secure a place in Division One.
FC Phuket have been drawn in the same group as Samut Prakan, Rayong, Chai Nat, Rajvithee and Loei City. The top two teams will secure a coveted spot in the second tier of Thai football.
The season, which began with a 0-0 draw at home to Pattalung in February, is not set to finish until December 19th by which time FC Phuket will have played an incredible 11 months of football.
Fortunately most of Arjan Songsamssub’s men have had a chance to recover as the play offs have been delayed due to the AFC under 19 Championships. Teenagers Adisak Kraisorn, Chakrit Rawanprakorn and Sarach Yooyen have all been involved in the international action while the rest of the team have been training together in Bangkok in preparation for the play offs.
The fixture list has not been particularly kind to FC Phuket who start off with two away games. While their form at Surakul Stadium has been imperious the Southern Sea Kirin have sometimes struggled away from home. The opening match is away to Samut Prakarn who finished second in the Central & Eastern league.
The second match, a week later, is also away. This time FC Phuket travel to Rayong who finished third in the Central & Eastern league, a point behind Samut Prakarn. It will be essential that FC Phuket can get some points on the board before their first home game against Chai Nat who finished second in the Northern League.
The other two teams in the group, Loei City and Bangkok FC, could provide the stiffest tests for FC Phuket. Both won their respective divisions and will feel they are more than capable of finishing in the top two in the play off group. FC Phuket travel to Bangkok FC and then have back to back games with Loei City immediately before the home game against Bangkok FC.
These four matches are likely to go a long way towards deciding who wins this group. The good news for FC Phuket is that they finish with two home games, against Rayong and Samut Prakan. If the side are still in contention at this stage they will feel confident of taking maximum points from the final two matches at what is rapidly becoming referred to as ‘Fortress Surakul’.
After all the work which has gone into the radically improved side, both on and off the pitch, it would be a major disappointment if FC Phuket missed out on promotion. They won their division by an incredible 14 points and are clearly far too good for the third tier of Thai football. However that will count for nothing if FC Phuket are unable to prosper in the end of season play offs.
Can FC Phuket claim their rightful place in Division One or will Arjan Songsamssub’s side fall at the final hurdle? It has been an incredible season so far for FC Phuket but now it all comes down to these ten matches.
Sunday Oct. 17 Samut Prakan 4pm away
Sunday Oct. 24 Rayong 6pm away
Saturday Oct. 30 Chai Nat 6pm home
Saturday Nov. 6 Bangkok FC 4pm away
Saturday Nov. 13 Loei City 6pm home Sunday Nov. 21 visit Loei city 4pm Saturday Nov. 27 home Bangkok FC 6pm Saturday Dec. 4 away Chai Nat 4pm Saturday Dec. 12 home Rayong 6pm Sunday Dec. 19 home Samut Prakan 6pm
(kick off times subject to change, check local press for details)
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