To borrow a phrase from the ill-fated musical duo Milli Vanilli:
‘It’s a tragedy for me to see
The dream is over
And I never will forget the day we met
Girl, I’m gonna miss you…’
It is a sentiment that many Phuket Andaman FC (PAFC) fans will likely echo, as their team’s campaign has felt like a cruel hoax, a season of ‘lip syncing’ where promise has rarely matched reality. While the Lobsters are not yet mathematically relegated, the writing is on the wall. Their final game, a daunting encounter against playoff-chasing FC Yala on Saturday (Mar 29), who need a win to secure their passage to the Thai League 2 promotion playoffs, feels like a formality.
Perhaps the less said about this particular match against PSU Surat Thani, the better. However, some baffling decisions in the PAFC lineup demand scrutiny, hinting at the deeper malaise plaguing the club. The absence of goalkeeper Bee, despite his unenviable record as the custodian with the league’s worst goals-conceded tally, was keenly felt. His understudy, Thanagorn, proved a far less assured presence between the posts.
In midfield, the absence of Min, usually a rare beacon of quality and composure, left a gaping hole. Up front, the selection of striker Bank raised eyebrows. Despite being Phuket’s top scorer, he had not trained all week, and his notorious reluctance to pass to teammates in better positions often renders him a liability rather than an asset. Worryingly, as the game wore on, Bank repeatedly refused Coach M’s attempts to substitute him, despite being visibly unfit and struggling to move. Cynics might suggest his stubbornness stemmed from a desire to inflate his goal tally in a desperate attempt to attract potential suitors for next season.
In a now familiar pattern, PAFC started brightly, showing fleeting glimpses of attacking intent. However, they failed to capitalise on these early opportunities, exhibiting a lack of urgency and a tendency to dwell on the ball, taking unnecessary touches that a more cohesive and well-drilled team would have eliminated.
The visitors punished this profligacy. Kritsada opened the scoring for PSU Surat Thani in the 19th minute, afforded far too much time and space to cut inside and score. Right-back Game, a player arguably better suited to a more advanced role, was the culpable party.
PAFC almost produced an immediate response, with Anucha slotting home in the 23rd minute. However, the ‘goal’ was disallowed for a foul in the build-up, an incident that had serious consequences. Surat Thani keeper Chaipakdee was injured in the melee and required an ambulance to leave the stadium.
Any hope of a PAFC comeback was swiftly extinguished in the second half. Kwon Hyuk extended the visitors’ lead in the 59th minute and Sarawut further compounded the home side’s misery with a third goal in the 67th minute. Substitute Natthawut then rubbed salt into the wound, adding a fourth just two minutes later.
Chonnasit’s dismissal in the 71st minute, following a second yellow card, finally seemed to provoke a response from PAFC, albeit a belated and ultimately futile one. Substitute Pavone created an opportunity for Bank, who duly obliged, adding to his goal tally.
The owners and dwindling band of PAFC fans will be hoping for a miracle this coming Saturday to somehow save their team from the inevitable. But, to paraphrase Milli Vanilli once more, “(Girl) you know it’s true” – the dream is over and relegation looms large.
Simon Causton is the host of ‘A Thai Football Podcast’ and writer of the ’Football Siam’ blog which covers all things Thai football.