Crown in progress

The new PPCFC red strip for the President's Cup

Every month the Phnom Penh Crown management team and coaching staff hold a team meeting to discuss all aspects of the club from the first team to the Academy boys and the club and office administration. Today was no exception and the meeting was in the club's new office on Street 200 for the first time. It's just one example of how Crown are putting into practice a professional and progressive attitude both on and off the field of play. Though we are leading the Metfone C-League at the moment, no one is underestimating any of our opponents and this weekend, we meet BBU, who knocked us out of the pre-season Hun Sen Cup competition, so we have a score to settle with them. That's followed by the AFC President's Cup which Crown will host jointly with the Football Federation of Cambodia, with all games to be played at the Olympic Stadium between 21-25 May. But that's just the bare bones. In terms of behind-the-scenes organisation, there is much more to arrange from hotel accommodation and transport for the teams, training facilities, arrangements for the AFC officials, media activities from press conferences to accreditation, promotion of the tournament which will include a television commercial, as well as matchday admin with security, cleaners, grass-cutters and so on. There will be six games played in the space of five days, at least 30-strong squads from three visiting teams to look after and more besides, so it will take an enormous amount of time and effort by a lot of people. The live television broadcasts will be shared between Bayon TV and TVK, who will show the three Crown matches to a live audience. We hope to invite as many of the capital's schoolchildren to attend the opening matches on 21 May as can come, to join in the festivities. Crown will be wearing a new strip for the President's Cup matches, which is seen here for the first time. We expect to have these shirts on sale at the stadium on the day of the match, if not before. The build-up for the President's Cup has already begun though we also have the important matter of meeting BBU in the league this coming Saturday at 4pm. Don't miss it.

The blue strip, also for the President's Cup