The appointment of new coach Phuwanart Saengsri, aka coach Tum, seemed to galvanise the squad as they battled to a 2-1 win at Surakul Stadium to collect 3 points and move off the bottom of the table.
However, tomorrow will pose another stern test as Muang Trang have been in formidable form this season; thus far they are unbeaten having won twice and drawn three times.
A shock decision saw the club part ways with their coach Richard Horlock before the last match away at Rayong, but new coach Prachak Wiang Song ‘Chak’ boasts an impressive CV, so it will be tough for the Lobsters to get anything out of this trip.
Their chairman is very “hands-on” and can be expected to be a prominent figure in the dugout. Unconfirmed reports suggest he likes to influence the officials, which won’t make it any easier. Keep an eye on midfielder Chanonon, who pulls the strings in the heart of the midfield.
I very much hope they play up to their nickname of “The Andaman Horses” and will be horribly – and predictably – disappointed if they don’t have a ‘Wild Horses’ by the Rolling Stones, ‘Who’s Going to Ride Your Wild Horses’ by U2 or even a ‘Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure’ tribute pre-match!
Where is Trang? What’s to do?
Trang lies in Trang province, four and a half hours south of Phuket. Situated halfway between the Tenasserim Hills and the Andaman Sea on the Trang River, this town of just under 60,000 people is often seen as a gateway to the islands of Koh Ngai and Koh Muk.
Trang boasts a quaint atmosphere with an interesting mix of Thai, Malay, and Chinese culture and architecture. Highlights include the vibrant night market and the historic port. Sadly, we will miss the underwater marriage festival that takes place annually in February. Conde Nast have a very complimentary review of the province: https://www.cntraveller.com/article/trang-thailand-guide.
Trang’s harbour is historically famous and was once known as Kantang. Legend has it that ships from other countries always landed at Kantang port at dawn, which explains how Trang got its name. “Trang” is derived from a Malay word meaning “dawn”.
PAFC Team News
Winger Bebe will be suspended for this match after receiving a red card in Wednesday’s home win over Pattani FC.
Captain and midfielder Kla is also suspended after reaching the yellow card limit for the season.
Forward Game and midfielder Not are likely to start in their places respectively.
Midfielder Min is facing a late fitness test after suffering a knock in training.
Match Outlook
This will be a tough test for PAFC, especially without star winger Bebe. Others will have to step up to fill the gap. We are predicting a score draw with a goal from in form striker Bank.
Match details
Location: Trang Municipal Stadium, Trang
Kick-off: 6pm
Tickets: B100 (concessions B80)
For more information please visit the PAFC website: https://linktr.ee/phuketandamanfc or Simon Causton’s blog at: https://phuketandamanfc.substack.com/.