With only three games under their belt going into the game – friendlies against Kedah FC (Malaysia), Phang Nga FC and a League Cup Qualifier against Yala FC, in which the Andaman Dragon won 6-5 on penalties – it was really going to be a test to see how they could perform against a top-level club.
And with the final score at only 0-1, Phuket showed that they can hold their own even against a team who have never dropped lower than League 1 since their inception in 1996.
Phuket went into Sunday’s game with a squad of 37 players, all new to the island, and each half saw two distinctly different line-ups, and two very different playing styles.
However, that squad has since been reduced to 29 with eight loaned players from now defunct Satun United FC having since been told they did not fit in with club president MaAnn Samran’s plans for the team.
“Replacement players will be recruited before the season kick-offs,” MaAnn told The Phuket News on Wednesday (Feb 17).
However, the decision on who the replacement players will be comes as at the time of going to press, the club were once again left not knowing what division they will be competing in for the soon to start 2016 season.
Having been relegated to Division 2 at the end of the 2015 season, Phuket have been left in a state of total confusion as to whether they will in fact play in Division 2 or be given back a place in League 1 after a number of clubs from both the TPL and League 1 have either lost their places in their respective leagues or decided not to enter teams this season.
Although it is MaAnns preference to start afresh as a new outfit in Division 2 this season, he says the team are ready to play in League 1 if it comes to it.
“Divison 2 or League 1, we have our team and we are prepared,” said MaAnn.
And if the performance last Saturday is anything to go by he is right in what he says.
Class Act Media is proud media sponsor of Phuket FC.