PHUKET: The hoodoo guru who keeps watch over football games everywhere must have used voodoo magic on Phuket FC tonight, just so they could take their streak of away games without a win to 11.
Certain obvious advantages were produced before the match to fool Phuket FC ''Hulk'' fans into thinking the time had come for the streak to end.
On paper, as a Division One side, they shaped up as better performers than their opponents Pattalung FC, a lowly Division Two team.
But at the end of the night, FC Phuket had not just failed to win but lost 1-0 to the Pattalung minnows from down south.
At least Phuket fans went through the first half with hopes high, but then hopes are not and have never been the problem.
It's just winning that causes the Phuket team difficulty when they are away from the comforting if rudimentary facilities at Surakul Stadium in Phuket City.
And it will be back to Phuket City next Wednesday - hallelujah Hulks - when FC Phuket will have a chance to redeem themselves.
You can bet the coach will be generating a little introspection this week in the leadup to the Phuket game of the season next Wednesday.
We can think of a few choice epithets. ''What's wrong with you?'' ''Call yourself Hulks - or Sulks!'' and ''Your jobs are on the line!'' are the ones that spring to mind, and coach Sompong Wattana is free to use them if he thinks they will do some good.
Otherwise we'll be forced to go back to calling them the South Sea Kirin, and they wouldn't like that.
This is, after all, the best chance FC Phuket will have for a while to finish among the silverware. It's the quarter final of the Toyota Cup, with the Southern Sea Ki - sorry, The Hulks - still able to triumph if they can win 2-1 on aggregate at Phuket City next week.
Are we anxious? Are we disillusioned? Are we nervous?
Yes, of course. We wouldn't be Phuket Hulk fans if we weren't.
But along with a crowd that may prove to be the largest of Phuket's first year in Division One, we'll be there in Phuket City at Surakul Stadium next week to cheer.
Go you mighty Phuket Hulks!
Certain obvious advantages were produced before the match to fool Phuket FC ''Hulk'' fans into thinking the time had come for the streak to end.
On paper, as a Division One side, they shaped up as better performers than their opponents Pattalung FC, a lowly Division Two team.
But at the end of the night, FC Phuket had not just failed to win but lost 1-0 to the Pattalung minnows from down south.
At least Phuket fans went through the first half with hopes high, but then hopes are not and have never been the problem.
It's just winning that causes the Phuket team difficulty when they are away from the comforting if rudimentary facilities at Surakul Stadium in Phuket City.
And it will be back to Phuket City next Wednesday - hallelujah Hulks - when FC Phuket will have a chance to redeem themselves.
You can bet the coach will be generating a little introspection this week in the leadup to the Phuket game of the season next Wednesday.
We can think of a few choice epithets. ''What's wrong with you?'' ''Call yourself Hulks - or Sulks!'' and ''Your jobs are on the line!'' are the ones that spring to mind, and coach Sompong Wattana is free to use them if he thinks they will do some good.
Otherwise we'll be forced to go back to calling them the South Sea Kirin, and they wouldn't like that.
This is, after all, the best chance FC Phuket will have for a while to finish among the silverware. It's the quarter final of the Toyota Cup, with the Southern Sea Ki - sorry, The Hulks - still able to triumph if they can win 2-1 on aggregate at Phuket City next week.
Are we anxious? Are we disillusioned? Are we nervous?
Yes, of course. We wouldn't be Phuket Hulk fans if we weren't.
But along with a crowd that may prove to be the largest of Phuket's first year in Division One, we'll be there in Phuket City at Surakul Stadium next week to cheer.
Go you mighty Phuket Hulks!
