Record crowd for United
Over 3,500 fans packed the Saphan Hin Sports Centre in Phuket Town to watch Phuket United let 2-0 lead slip away to reigning AFC Futsal Champions Chonburi Blue Wave on June 8. Still, the 4-2 loss was only an aside to how raucous the complex was throughout the match. In fact, Phuket United leads the league in highest attendance totals.
=========================================================
Asian Beach Games
Over 4,000 athletes from 45 countries took part in what was, to many’s surprise, a well-organised mini-olympics across the island. Sports like Beach Flag Football and Foot Volley were played alongside the popular football and beach wrestling matches. The event was so successful, organisers and government officials have already begun talks of Thailand potentially hosting the inaugural World Beach Games in the future. VIDEO HERE
=========================================================
Full Metal Dojo 1
On June 7, Seduction Nightclub in Patong hosted the first-ever mixed martial arts (MMA) event on the island with Full Metal Dojo’s inaugural show. Few outside of the local Muay Thai/MMA camps realise the amount of combat sports talent that reside in Phuket and Full Metal Dojo, with it’s mix of Thai and foreign fighters, was more than a showcase – it was the start of something big. A second show in August only cemented the promotion’s island roots. Phuketians can lay claim to have seen it first. VIDEO HERE
=========================================================
Almeria’s Phuket tour
With Thai star Teerasil Daengda recently signed to UD Almeria, it seemed like a perfect fit that the Spanish club play Phuket FC at Surakul Stadium. It was the first time a European top-flight club played on the island as the visitors took a 3-1 win on August 6 in front of thousands. VIDEO HERE
=========================================================
EPL Masters
With the likes of ex-English Premier League stars Robbie Fowler, Luis Saha, Des Walker, David Hirst and Lee Sharpe gracing the Surakul Stadium field in front of 5,000 fans, it seemed certain they would put away the team of Thailand Legends. Not to be as the Thai team won 4-3 in Phuket Town on August 10. Still, the night saw several formidable talents on the pitch, including current Thailand coach Kiatisak Senamuang. VIDEO HERE
=========================================================
Running proposal
You would think after running 42.1km at the 9th Laguna Phuket International Marathon on June 8 that Kiranee Narabal’s day was done – not so. After crossing the finish line, her running partner, Kerati Charoenwattanachai, dropped down to one knee and proposed. Narabal said yes. “I couldn’t stop laughing so much about this, it was a very wonderful moment,” she later told The Phuket News.
=========================================================
Sinbi Fight Night
After two unspeakable tragedies struck the Sinbi Muay Thai family in early December 2013, the gym put together a charity Thai boxing event to help out. Sinbi trainer Wang was diagnosed with terminal leukemia while Dui, a young Thai fighter, was killed in a tragic motorbike accident. Though the event took place on December 28, the local Muay Thai community came together and helped raise B200,000 for the stricken families. Well done.
=========================================================
Dual top finishers
History was made on November 23 as both Massimo Cigano and Alberto Casadei crossed the finish line as dual top finishers at the Laguna Phuket Triathlon. Cigano also became the event’s first four-time champion. Both men, who hail from Venice, Italy, decided to finish together during the last lap.