MASSIVE Photo Album Above
FC PHUKET'S 1-0 football triumph tonight was tempered by tragedy as a star player collapsed on the field and had to be carried to hospital by ambulance.
Tonight Camara Ahmed, one of the Southern Sea Kirin's three players from the Ivory Coast, was in a serious condition in Bangkok Hospital Phuket in Phuket City after suffering what doctors believe was an on-field heart attack.
He had been carried from Surakul Stadium before hundreds of happy fans joined players in an exuberant celebration of the 49th-minute goal against Chainat FC that saw the one-time lowly team move one step closer to being elevated to Division 1.
It was striker Phawin Dootsomba who headed the ball past the Chainat goalkeeper to keep the FC Phuket bandwagon rolling.
Imports Camara Ahmed, Diarra Ali and Nene Bi have been instrumental in revitalising the team that was formed only weeks before the start of the 2009 Division Two and, through the magic of coach Arjan Songssamsub, topped the table in 2010.
Now the guys in green stand poised for greater things, and possibly a place in Division 1. FC Phuket is one of the favorites to win the divisional playoffs, with their next assignment in Bangkok on November 6.
Former Phuket football scribe James Goydfer, previewing the match for cnngo.com, said: ''Ultimately, the ambition is to follow in the footsteps of Muang Thong United, which won Division 2, Division 1 and the Thai Premier League in three consecutive seasons.''
Update The fairy tale success story of FC Phuket's rise and rise up the Thailand football tree took second place today to the real life drama of a star player who suffered an apparent heart attack.
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