Phuket now home to The Islanders
PHUKET: Phuket’s football club has a new look off the pitch, and it appears to be taking effect on the field too.
Kazira Hans
Wednesday 13 June 2012, 06:53PM
Indeed, if the local side continue last weekend’s form, which saw them win against Sa Kaeo in the Toyota League Cup, fans might not have too many qualms about buying a new strip mid-season.
Following new president Pamuke Achariyachai taking over the helm three weeks ago, the club’s Board of Directors agreed that FC Phuket should start afresh and revert to their former name, Phuket FC, as well as change the team logo.
The decision was made at a board meeting on June 6, with the board also agreeing to rebrand the team logo from ‘FC Phuket Football Club 1688’ to ‘Phuket FC The Islanders’.
Mr Pamuk told The Phuket News this week: “We rebranded the club because we want to be seen under a new light from before.
“This rebranding and renaming of the team is like Phuket’s football team being reborn. The Islanders represent us. We are the only team on the island, and we are ready to go big.”
Mr Pamuk’s words were put to the test last weekend as the new-look side travelled to Sa Kaeo, east of Bangkok, on Saturday (June 9) for their first Toyota League Cup match.
In the first half, both teams played with caution, and it wasn’t until midway through that The Islanders found their rhythm.
And it didn’t take them long to find the net. With 10 minutes remaining in the first half, Niran Panthong sent the ball into the Sa Kaeo penalty area, where teammate Ibrahim Kanoute tapped the ball down before sending it into the back of goal, putting Phuket FC 1-0 ahead.
The hosts were anxious for an equaliser before the break, launching a series of swift counter attacks and applying pressure to the Phuket FC goal, but their efforts couldn’t yield results as the players left the field with The Islanders leading 1-0.
Phuket goalkeeper Peerachart Yimthong was the star of the second half, soaking up continued periods of intense pressure as Sa Kaeo searched desperately for a goal.
In the end, the score remained unchanged, and Phuket FC walked away 1-0 victors.
Whether that success can be replicated in the Yamaha League 1 though, where the side are currently languishing in 16th place, is yet to be seen.
The team play Siam Navy FC tonight (June 13). They also host Bangkok this Sunday (June 17) at Surakul Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 6.30pm.
