PHUKET's non-stop 24-hour beach football just bounced back to become a key event in the leadup to the Songkran-Easter holiday break.

The innovative competition was organised as a morale booster for the island, then cancelled when it looked as though the Asean (Plus Six) summit was coming this way.

However, Pattaya scored the conference because Phuket already had too many bookings for the holiday break.

So . . . Phuket International Midnight Beach Soccer 2009 is on the agenda once again.

The Asean (Plus One) education summit will be held on Phuket from April 5-9, followed by the beack kickoff at midnight on April 11.

A total of 120 teams are expected to play.

The plan is to have two competitions, one for tourists and the other for residents.

Competitors are expected to join the five-a-side beach football competition from around the world.

The recently-departed Governor, Dr Preecha Ruangjan, said Phuket was the first destination in the world to adopt the idea. He was hoping it will receive Guinness Book of World Records endorsement.

The beach soccer follows the success of the women's beach volleyball international tournament, which has grown into a prominent tourist attraction on Karon beach over the past few years.

Registrations for the football tournament, which will be held at Karon, Kamala and Patong, are being accepted now through Tourism and Sport on +66 (0) 76 217054.

Alternative numbers at the tessabans for the beaches are Karon: +66 (0) 76 330186, Patong: +66 (0) 76 344255, Kamala: +66 (0) 76 385640-4.