Sakon Nakhon not the 2012 Phu Phan Champ

Yesterday's game squashed that chance


Nong Khai 2   Sakon Nakhon 0

With this loss Sakon Nakhon has lost all chances for first or second place
The Sakon Nakhon game today will decide if they can maintain third place



Final day of the Phu Phan Cup is November 23
Both the game and closing ceremonies are to be broadcast on National TV

The last time Sakon Nakhon won the Phu Phan Cup was 26 years ago
Sakon Nakhon has hosted the Phu Phan cup for the past 9 years
This year marks 31 years of the Phu Phan Cup

One win, one loss for Sakon Nakhon in the Phu Phan Cup

Sakon lost it's first game against Udon 0-2, but had an astounding recovery during it's second game against Sisaket.  What became obvious from the start was these are not the teams which play in the  Thai Division 2 League North Eastern Region. Of all the players I only recognized one.  Quite noticeably the uniform colors were different. Further evidence that these are not the Northeastern  League teams was the performance by Sisaket.    I couldn't stay for the entire game due to digestive discomforts and had to make a mad dash home. As I left Sakon Nakhon made it's fifth goal, while Sisaket was scoreless. The Sisaket league team finished in second place during the regular league season.

The Phu Phan Cup has arrived

Had considered attending the morning ceremony, then decided I'd seen it before.    Comparing photographs by S.TV of yesterday's event with my photographs from last year, They are identical Everything seemed the same down to the smallest detail.

Phu Phan Cup - the first three days

Date Game time Group Rival Field 1 Nov 13 14.00 A RoiEt Mahasarakham Pattanasuksa (ITU) 2 16.00 B Yasothon Buri Ram 3 14.00 C Nakhon.Phanom Amnat Charoen Sakon Nakhon Rajabhat.University 4 16.00 D Udon Thani Sakon Nakhon  5 13.00 E Kalasin Loei Sakolrajwittayanukul (north of Police.station) 6 15.00 F Ubon Thani Chaiyaphum 7 Nov 14 14.00 F Mukdahan Ubon Thani, Pattanasuksa (ITU) 8 16.00 E Nong.Bua.Lamphu Kalasin 9 14.00 B Khoen Kean Yasothon Sakon Nakhon Rajabhat University 10 16.00 A Nong Khai  Roi Et 11 13.00 D Sisaket Udon Thani Sakolrajwittayanukul (north of Police.station) 12 15.00 C Surin Nakhon Phanom 13 Nov 15 14.00 C Amnat Charoen Surin Pattanasuksa (ITU) 14 16.00 E Sakon Nakhon Sisaket 15 14.00 D Loei Nong.Bua.Lamphu Sakon Nakhon Rajabhat University 16 16.00 F Chaiyaphum Mukdahan 17 13.00 A Mahasarakham Nong Khai Sakolrajwittayanukul (north of Police.station) 18 15.00 B Buri Ram Khoen Kean Source http://www.sakon-pao.go.th/6112555_2_2.html

Phu Phan Cup Lineup

Group A    Nong Khai (defending Champions),  Roi Et,  Mahasarakham      Group B    Khoen Kean, Yasothon, Buri Ram      Group C    Surin, Nakhon Phanom, Amnat Charoen      Group D    Udon Thani, Sisaket, Sakon Nakhon (host)      Group E    Nong Bua Lamphu,  Kalasin, Loei      Group F    Mukdahan, Ubon Thani, Chaiyaphum             source grassy knoll seating Playing locations, times, and other pertinent details still lacking. Based on previous years experience, games will most likely be played at multiple locations.  The University stadium (intersection of hwy 22 and 223) has been designated for the main events: ceremonies and championship game.  Spectator seating is 'on the grassy knoll.' Available bleachers will most likely be occupied by university students.  If bleacher seating is available to you, bring sunscreen and visors. Shaded and catered seating is available to dignitaries surrounded by heavy security Someone nudged me and pointed to the book which had been laying on my front porch for eons.  Judging by the size of that playbook... maybe that's the reason information is so slow in coming

Phu Phan Cup 2012

Who brought the kibbles?  According to official documents online   the 2012 Phu Phan Cup  will be held November 13 through 23. Phu Phan Cup Pregame ceremonies 2006

Nong Khai is the 2011 Phu Phan Cup winner

Plenty of pomp prior to the final Phu Phan Cup game.  It was almost as if this was a military event rather than a sporting event.  With provincial officials fromSakon Nakhon and Nong Kha in attendance there was plenty of security.  I'd guess a good 20% of the spectators were military, police and security forces.

It was obvious to me from the start that Nong Khai was the better team. The Nong Khai team seemed to have control of the ball most of the first half.  The Sakon Team did have a few near misses, real groaners.
The Sakon team performed much better during the second half. Almost felt like they had a good chance at pulling it off.

I've seen it before at football games, a bit of 'Keystone Comedy.'  The steps to the scoreboard where high enough to change the lower parts of the scoreboard.  To reach the upper part of the numbers the scorekeeper had to do some acrobatics

The half time show was a typical Isaan show.  Sure it was great, but I've seen the same routine year after year, nothing really new and exciting.

The venue, the college football field isn't the best in town for spectator seating. The bleachers were entirely reserved for students. Not that I envied them. They get the afternoon sun directly into their faces.

Most of the general seating is on the lawn. I moved twice due to ant attacks.

 

Of course the best seats, cushioned and protected from the sun were reserved for dignitaries.

Apparently there were spectators from near and far, including some fans from Ayutthaya

Toward the end of the game they were setting up for the fireworks (for which I did not stick around).
 At least this year they did not set up the fireworks in the parking lot amid parked vehicles, as I had noted in past years

 

Phu Phan Cup Finale

Sakon Nakhon will face  Nong Khai in the final game of the Phu Phan Cup, 
this Friday, 3 PM, at Rajabhat University.

Sakon Nakhon beat Khon Kaen yesterday (Wednesday) 6 -1.

Khon Kean will face  Kalasin today at 3 pm, at Rajabhat University, to determine the third place winner.

Unable to confirm, but have heard that the game will be televised, possibly on Channel 11 (ASTV), available on the net.

VIP Monkey? attends Phu Phan Games

A pet of one of the VIP attendees at the Phu Phan Cup games held at SakonNakhonPattanaSuska school seemed quite comfortable, but not really interested in the action on the field.
The animal was not chained and seemed very content sitting on it's owners shoulders.



Students from the school had been excused from regular classes to attend the games

In the first game Ubon beat Loei

In the second game Sakon Nakhon defeated Bueng Kan 1-0

These are not the football clubs we see during the regular season. Noticed some Sakon FC staff watching the games, obviously scouting for tallent.

I'll attempt to keep up with the scores here