More Academy kudos

Phnom Penh Crown are getting their name known across Asia not only through their successful first-team but also through their Elite Academy, who have just completed a visit to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, on the back of picking up the 3rd place trophy at the recent high-profile Singapore Soccer Sixes competition. The Vietnam trip, for eleven of the Academy's 22 players (the other eleven took part in Singapore a week earlier), was a good learning experience for the youngsters, with international exposure one of the key aims of the Academy, as they played three games, recording two wins. They kicked-off with a 6-3 success against the Vinamilk-Arsenal Soccer School, based in Saigon, in a 7-a-side game, with Srang Titchhy (pictured) starring with five goals and Nak Samnang claiming the other one. They then took on the experienced Thai Son Nam U-14s and despite a year or two in age favouring the Saigon-based team, it was the Crown youngsters who ran out 2-0 winners, with Nak Samnang and Theam Chhaya netting. In their final match of the day, Men Piphob gave Crown the lead but they finally succumbed to the team from HCMC District 8, 1-3. Academy head coach Bouy Dary pronounced himself very pleased with the youngsters performances in all three games, with tiredness playing its part in the final fixture. There were a lot of positive comments from those watching as to the skills and team-work demonstrated by the Academy team, and coupled with the success in Singapore, these first two ventures on the international front have rubber-stamped the initial success of the Academy, which is only in its sixth month of existence. The boys who made the trip to Saigon were: Pech Sovanarath, Men Piphob, Ok Sovanna, Nak Samnang, Nob Devid, Saveng Samnang, Long Phearath, Theam Chhaya, Choun Chanchav, Kim Chhaya, Srang Titchhy.