Midweek activity

There are two more Metfone C-League games this afternoon at Olympic Stadium. The Army meet new boys Rithysen at 2pm, with my money, what little there is, on the military team to win this one. Even though their team has been decimated over the close season with the loss of key players like Khim Borey, Sin Dalin, Nov Soseila and so on, they still keep churning them out like the very promising goalkeeping prospect Oum Vichet, who will be battling it out with one of the country's very best, Sou Yaty, for the number 1 spot this season. By the way, how Yaty isn't in the national team I don't know. With the early kick-off I expect the game to be played at walking pace, as the heat makes life very difficult for the players. Rithysen are based in Kompong Chhnang and were runners-up in the Division 1A qualifiers. It will be interesting to see how they fare as they meet champions Phnom Penh Crown in their 2nd match on Sunday. In the 4pm kick-off, Build Bright United will meet the Sea Sharks of Chhlam Samuth, who are effectively the former Navy team, and who scraped through to the top flight courtesy of a play-off success when Khemara decided to pull out at the last minute, just before the season began. BBU are on a run, even though they were halted by Preah Khan in the recent Hun Sen Cup Final, and I expect them to win comfortably with Chhun Sothearath pulling the strings in midfield. For Chhlam Samuth, the baptism of teenage keeper Hel Udom will be interesting to watch, as he's also tipped for great things.