UHT Vana Nava Hua Hin City FC 2015

[Big Boy]

[Geordie Dancer]

Great to see the new Brazilians doing a bit of training with the team today. They certainly look the part, big and strong, should add some physical presence to the team. Looks like they are going to get some time on the pitch tomorrow. My expectations of them for the game are not too high cos they must be knackered after the travelling. Still great to have them here. Maybe a few sherbets down Nana or Soi Cowboy and a bit of special thai massage tonight will have them raring to go tomorrow. Good luck for tomorrow and well done to all concerned with the club. Howay Hua Hin!

[Big Boy]

a bit of special thai massage tonight

They must be reading the forum alrady, and took your advice

[Big Boy]

Rachapreuk Meuang Non Utd 1 - 1 UHT Vana Nava Hua Hin City

Today was a journey from hell. It started with 4 Farang supporters left at the rendezvous point, and one bus had to turn back. We arrived at the ground 15 minutes after kick off. Coming home we got lost at least 3 times. 45 minutes after we left the stadium, we found ourselves back there again. I actually came to the conclusion our driver couldn't read. He took 3 clearly marked wrong turnings in quick succession .

We rushed into the stadium, and I immediately looked for our 3 newcomers - there they were, on the bench, which, if I'm honest, is where I thought they should be as they'd almost certainly be jet-lagged.

Pu was injured halfway through the first half, and Kanchit had to come on to replace him. This meant we would only see a maximum of 2 Brazilians on the field today.

Half time came around very quickly, and the score remained 0 - 0.

Soon after the 2nd half started, Rachapreuk were awarded a penalty for what looked like a dive. However, there was no protest from the Hua Hin players, so I assume it was an exaggerated foul. The Rachapreuk player converted the opportunity by sending Shota the wrong way.

Time for our first Brazilian. No.10, L. Marques replaced Panupong, and immediately took up a centre forward's role. He looked fast, skillful and very strong. A few minutes later his twin brother, A. Marques came on to the field. Hua Hin were playing with 5 out and out strikers (although Sato and Jakkaphan Srivichai dropped to midfield roles).

Within a minute of our second Brazilian joining the game, his brother floated an inch perfect ball on to his head, and he had a goal inside his first minute of playing Thai football.

The game was now very exciting, with chances at both ends. However, the result was 1 - 1.

Today was always about the Brazilians. I will admit that I had doubts about their ability, but for guys who had been at 35,000 feet just 36 hours earlier, enduring a 24 hour flight, I was impressed. They are going to cause Thai teams a lot of problems, and as well as linking up well with each other, they played some fantastic balls to the other 3 forwards. They weren't afraid to track back either.

For the last half hour, Hua Hin started to look like a class outfit again. I hope they can keep it up.

Next game is away to Krung Thonburi on Sun 8 Mar at 16:00. So no league game next week.

[Sabai Sabai]

Well that was an interesting day out! As you say the journey was a bit of a nightmare. leaving at 12:30 for a 4pm kick off in Bangkok on a Sunday was asking for trouble IMO. I was in the bus with the band(albeit depleted today) and the guy who normally drives their pick up to games was suggesting we should have left an hour earlier. I agree! I guess the good news is we shouldn't get lost for our next game(away to Krung Tonburi on 8/3) as they play at that same stadium!

Not much to add to BB's comments about the first half, I also missed the first 15 mins!

I was equally very impressed with the Brazilian twins when they came on in the 2nd half. Firstly Lucas(no.10) straight swap for our 23. Playing in central midfield? His preferred position. You could see very soon after he came on he had a bit class about him.

When Andre(no.9) came on he went straight up front(his natural position) and looked very good as well. To score within a minute of coming on.... Hard to make a better first impression! As you say BB, set up by his brother. It was a great cross and equally good header!

In the time the Brazilians were on the park they showed they were skilful, had pace and strength and the team improved, I thought Sato especially's game improved and linked up well with them. If that's them jet lagged and knackered, I can't wait to see them once they've gotten fit again and get to know their team mates and the Thai game in general better.

We obviously lost Pu quite early in the game and there were injuries to others as well, including Wongsawad who was arguably our star player the first 2 cup games, who wasn't available today.

We now have 2 weeks before our next game, give the crocks time to heal and the Brazilians time to get to know the club. Ricardo mentioned they've a couple of team bonding trips lined up during the break, going to waterfalls etc.

Only a draw today but I'm feeling pretty optimistic about the rest of the season now!

[Geordie Dancer]

Just got in after replacing lost fluid and a great day out with Hua Hin City. The magical mystery tour or all roads lead to nowhere, I dont know which. After all the pessimism over the Brazilians, there they were, albeit sat on the bench, after our belated entry to the ground, 15 minutes after kick off due to a few unscheduled detours and elongated face feeding excursions, but what a day. After a foreshortened and uneventful first half the first of the Brazilians (Lucus Marques) made his entrance as a sub early in the second half. Immediately he looked the biz, big, strong, fast and skillful. Within 10 minutes his twin brother (Andre) joined him and with his first touch in under a minute netted for Hua Hin. What a debut. Despite them travelling for 24 hours and only arriving in Bangkok yesterday morning they looked great. Two weeks now to get acclimatised and get to know their team mates. Can't wait for two weeks time for the next game. Well done to Hua Hin City and thank you for the free transport, entrance, food and sight seeing excursions. Hua Hin Blue and White Army!

[Big Boy]

And our reward is that we're off the bottom of the league.

[Big Boy]

Video highlights of yesterday's game:

[Davy B]

I didn`t know if I wanted to laugh or cry!! I decided, against my better judgement and my hatred for Bangkok, not to make the journey to the game yesterday. I had asked my wife 3 times last week was she sure that the opposition was her cousin`s team or not and it was assumed that it wasn`t. Well with 10 minutes to go to kick off we got a call from another cousin to say that it WAS, followed by a few expletives from me. The team are called Rajapruk and NOT Rachapreuk, as mentioned on the fixture list, which added to the confusion and my wife`s cousin Anucha Bom was playing. He was the Number 16, and he had a decent game as it happens. But my sadness at missing it turned to joy when I was told to go into the Facebook page of Rajapruk and click on the link on the right hand side. Lo and behold the game was on live. Brilliant!! Unlike all the unlucky travelling support I didn`t miss anything. I even had a few glimpses of the cheerleaders oh and Big Boy, when he actually made it. Big Boy actually told me the stadium was easy to find if I used his sat nav. I think he should have taken it with HIM!! Ha ha ha!!. We seemed to be out of sorts in the first half which passed without much incident but the second half was a different story. Sato dropped back to midfield and the brothers came on and changed the game for us. They are what I have been calling out for some time, big and strong and skilful and can hold the ball up for the supporting midfielders, but to score within a minute of coming on, is fairy tale stuff, isn`t it. I was very impressed and these guys are going to cause problems no matter who we are playing. We looked like we were going to score with every attack and we really started to play as a team and it was great to see. No doubt we will be arranging a couple of friendlies over the coming fortnight to iron out any problems and to get match fitness ready for the full assault on the Title. While it is always better to be there in person being able to follow the boys via the internet turned out to be a brilliant option if it is not on SiamSport. Well done, guys!!!

[Big Boy]

Big Boy actually told me the stadium was easy to find if I used his sat nav. I think he should have taken it with HIM!! Ha ha ha!!.

No, it wouldn't have been easy . The stadium listed on the Internet was Photinimit Witthayakhom Stadium, where as they actually play at Mahidol Salaya Stadium (I'm not even sure that is right because we passed Mahidol University just before we got there). My perception was that we were at the University next door (Rajamangala University of Technology) - confused? I was

However, Sabai Sabai is normally right (even if his timing is a little suspect - in Thai time ), so I won't doubt him this time about it being the stadium that Krung Thonburi also play at.

[Sabai Sabai]

The team are called Rajapruk and NOT Rachapreuk, as mentioned on the fixture list!

Lesson learned for future then Davy B, sometimes there isn't a right and a wrong way to spell in English a translated word from Thai, if it sounds about the same then it probably is!

My perception was that we were at the University next door (Rajamangala University of Technology)

Indeed we were!

Sabai Sabai is normally right (even if his timing is a little suspect - in Thai time ).

No arguments on the first part!

However, I feel the need to defend myself on the 2nd part! Whilst I was cutting it a little bit fine yesterday, I did arrive at the temple before half past. Indeed, looking at my phone records my friend(who was on your bus with his gf) phoned me at 12:27 asking if I was on the other bus, at which point I was already at the temple but the bus had left early!

At 12:30 exactly he called to let me know the other bus was turning round to come back for me, he phoned me a 3rd time to check we got it ok at 12:34, by which time the bus had arrived back at the temple, done a bit of re-arranging where the drums were stored and squeezed the kids in next to the drums to create room for us! So after all that carry on we still got away only 4 mins after the planned time.(albeit the poor kids weren't very comfy!)

The 2 guys who arrange the transport were on my bus and they basically admitted to me that the buses were filled so they left, despite the fact it still wasn't 12:30 and despite the fact he acknowledged I'd phoned and reserved 4 seats(2 for my friends on your bus and 2 for myself and "Don East Stand")

No real harm done in the end. I do hope that in 2 weeks time we set off before 12:30 though.

[Big Boy]

Sabai Sabai is normally right (even if his timing is a little suspect - in Thai time ).

No arguments on the first part!

However, I feel the need to defend myself on the 2nd part! Whilst I was cutting it a little bit fine yesterday, I did arrive at the temple before half past. Indeed, looking at my phone records my friend(who was on your bus with his gf) phoned me at 12:27 asking if I was on the other bus, at which point I was already at the temple but the bus had left early!

At 12:30 exactly he called to let me know the other bus was turning round to come back for me, he phoned me a 3rd time to check we got it ok at 12:34, by which time the bus had arrived back at the temple, done a bit of re-arranging where the drums were stored and squeezed the kids in next to the drums to create room for us! So after all that carry on we still got away only 4 mins after the planned time.(albeit the poor kids weren't very comfy!)

The 2 guys who arrange the transport were on my bus and they basically admitted to me that the buses were filled so they left, despite the fact it still wasn't 12:30 and despite the fact he acknowledged I'd phoned and reserved 4 seats(2 for my friends on your bus and 2 for myself and "Don East Stand")

No real harm done in the end. I do hope that in 2 weeks time we set off before 12:30 though.

If the cap fits I was referring to the arrival of the Brazilians.

No, you were spot on yesterday. When I overheard your friend on the phone to you yesterday, I was the one who got his missus to phone the other bus to get them to turn around for you

[Sabai Sabai]

Ah, ok.... Cheers for that then!

[Big Boy]

Site of new stadium, 2 weeks on:



They've moved a bit more soil - ground works are usually slow, with very little to show.

[Don East Stand]

Well as my learned colleagues have already explained in detail, that was a trip and a half! It should only have been a trip .....but navigational skills do not appear to be one of the Thai's strong points

However let's be very clear, .... when our club are laying on free transport to and from the game, you won't find me complaining about it. I did think however that they might have managed to squeeze us onto the bus with the dancing girls

There's not much I can add to the match reports, that's already been well covered, but I would like to discuss the Brazilians.

I was determined before the game not to judge them, due to their no doubt exhausting journey, and only arriving the day before the game. I watched them warm up during half time and it was apparent that they have played the game before.

I don't want to get carried away, especially considering we only saw two out of the three Brazilians, and for a relatively short period of time .... however it was a very promising start. If they can get up to full match fitness, get to know their colleagues, perhaps learn Thai for, "Give the ball to me!" then I'm sure we're in for a treat.

I also have it on good authority that our "new" manager already has a headache, in as much as he can only field 4 foreigners at one time. Our goalkeeper, Shota, does not deserve to be dropped and Sato is also starting to settle in quite nicely. We obviously are not bringing in three Brazilians to sit on the bench, so how would you advise the "new" manager on this rather pleasant problem?