Sunday, April 17, 2011

2nd time lucky for Don Bosco

Don Bosco SC, last season's Sri Lankan league champions
Let's take a look at Phnom Penh Crown's first opponents when the AFC President's Cup kicks-off at the National Olympic Stadium on Saturday 21 May. The President's Cup competition is the third tier of the Asian Football Confederation and pits emerging nations against each other, in this instance, it will be the Sri Lankan league champions, Don Bosco Sports Club from Negombo. Don Bosco won the Sri Lankan Dialog Champions League in mid-January (as well as prize money of $6,300) with a two-point advantage over the Army, in what was only their second season in the top flight. The previous year they just missed out on the championship, so it was 2nd time lucky for the club, coached by former national coach Sampath Perera. Don Bosco SC began life in 1963 and their promotion as Division 2 champions in early 2009 was their first major honour. They currently have three players in the Sri Lankan national team with midfielder Philip Dalpedathu their most influential player. The only other occasion that Crown have met opponents from Sri Lanka was in the 2005 President's Cup when they lost 3-2 to Blue Star in the very last minute. In last season's President's Cup, Cambodia's representatives, Naga defeated the Renown SC from Sri Lanka 4-2 in their meeting.

1 comment:

Andy Brouwer said...

In case you wondered why there were priests in white robes sat amongst the football team, the Don Bosco SC is a part of the Roman Catholic Don Bosco organization, founded in remembrance of Italian Catholic priest, John Bosco. The Salesians are the religious order that carries on his work throughout the world. We have Don Bosco schools in Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville. I'm pretty sure the priests are not playing members of the 1st XI.