Thailand U23 outshine Phuket All Stars
PHUKET: In the first of two friendly charity games scheduled for Surakul Stadium, the Thailand U23s annihilated a Phuket All Stars team by a score of 6-1 on Sunday evening.
The All Stars team was in fact an FC Phuket ‘B’ team given the opportunity to showcase their abilities against the junior national team preparing for the SEA Games, due to start for Thailand on November 9.
Sri Racha Suzuki player Sutcharit Chantakol was the star of the show, scoring a hat trick which was sure to impress the national teams’ coaching staff.
Sutcharit bagged the first two before Phuket’s golden boy, Sarach Yooyen playing for the U23s, weighed in with Thailand’s third goal which added to the All Star’s defensive misery and sent them in at half time 3-0 down.
Former FC Phuket player Adisak Kraisorn notched up Thailand’s fourth, and shortly after that, Natthapong Thubsai managed a consolation score for the All Stars.
Sutcharit polished off his hat trick and Thailand’s fifth which was followed by the final nail in the coffin, hammered in by Thailand’s captain, Ronnachai Rungsiyo.
Phuket’s goalkeeper, Jonathan Matijas, was a spectator at the game. He sat with a foreigner wearing a Phuket shirt on the All Stars bench, and was asked about his identity.
“His name is Carlo Coppari. Carlo is here to explore the possibility of signing with FC Phuket for next season. He may play on Thursday depending on the coach’s plans,” Matijas explained to the Phuket Gazette.
Coppari has played in the Italian Serie B League with teams including AC Mantova, Mezzocorona and Poggibons.
Another change to the match schedule was announced at the game, advising fans that the Thailand U23 versus FC Phuket match has again been switched and will now be played on Thursday evening, November 3.
Kick off will be at 6pm and tickets will cost 100 baht, a portion of which will go to help victims of the flooding around Thailand.
The Gazette will keep our readers informed should there be any further changes to the upcoming schedule of matches.
— Steven Layne
