Phuket to host AFC Cup match

PHUKET TOWN: Instability in Bangkok is once again sending an Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup match Phuket’s way.

Thailand FA Cup 2009 champions Thai Port FC and NT Realty Wofoo Tai Po of Hong Kong are set to face off in an AFC Cup Group H match tomorrow night at Phuket’s Surakul Stadium.

Kick-off is at 6:30pm.

Thai Port FC are in second place in Group H, behind Vietnam’s SHB Danang.

Going into their final group match, Thai Port have already qualified for the next round in the competition.

Head Coach Wattana Pochanakong said, “We really want to see Phuket come out for the game. We are one of Thailand’s representatives in the AFC Cup and would really appreciate the support of Phuket.

“The team is 100% ready to play on any pitch,” he said.

When asked by the Gazette about the possibility of a ‘friendly’ between Thai Port FC and FC Phuket, Mr Wattana was non-committal.

“We would really like to do that at some point. I am also very delighted to have this match in Phuket to help promote tourism here,” he said.

The AFC Cup Group H standings are as follows: SHB Danang of Vietnam in first (13 points); Thai Port FC in second (8 points); Singapore’s Gaylang United FC in third (3 points); and NT Realty Wofoo Tai Po, last (2 points).

In other football news, FC Phuket won their last match with an exciting 2-1 home win over Krabi on Saturday.

For a complete report and analysis, see the Phuket Gazette that hits the newsstands this Saturday. Gazette Digital subscribers will be able to read it, and the full newspaper, here.

— Sitthipong Nongkaew