Phnom Penh Post - Khmer editionUpdate: The Wednesday edition did indeed carry a longer analysis under the title Lee Tae Hoon comes under fire, in English. I was quoted as an established blogger on Cambodian football. Apparently my harshest assessment was reserved for the selection policy employed by the coach. They then included some of my comments from my blog postings. In another part of the article, the coach apparently told his team after the 6-2 defeat in Laos. "I am the only person who is responsible to this loss, it's not you all." Unfortunately the coach didn't follow that up by falling on his sword. The FFC spokesman, May Tola admitted; "...although it has not been great or perfect, the FFC has done everything possible to support the team considering our limited means and many tasks to implement." Except that is, arranging suitable international friendly matches, selecting the best players plying their trade in Thailand, taking a full squad to Laos for the 2nd leg and agreeing another 1 year contract for the coach. May Tola also asserted that the South Korean is a skilful coach who has a long vision to build up the national team. On allegations of match-fixing during the WC qualifiers, Tola said that the FFC had set up an adhoc committee to investigate. "We will firstly need the coach to make a report and we will watch the match again to see if our players have done their best and whether the accusation of match fixing/selling has any substance." This particular allegation, which always seems to crop up in Asian football when things go badly, is not something which I support, at all.
8 comments:
Match-fixing! Who needs to fix matches - just leave Cambodia's best players and match-winners Khim Borey (hat-trick against East Timor), Keo Sokngorn, Chan Rithy and Chan Chhaya out of the 30-man World Cup squad - suicide!
The Phnom Penh Post article in English is at:
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2011071350349/Sport/lee-tae-hoon-comes-under-fire.html
Why don't you tell us what you really think Andy!
welcome to kingdom of wonder....
wonder where the FIFA's 400k investment went to when i see fields in such condition and still no grassroots soccer in schools around the country...without a detail program to groom the the whole country (instead of only in PP), there will not be a future for this country... Every school in Singapore has a soccer pitch (in land scarce island) so it speaks as to what direction the govt is doing to promote sports in school and the FA for soccer... and i always believe that sports is an important pillar in nation building but obviously it is not the case for soccer or cambodia....sad
Anon 3.49PM: Thanks for making me smile. Football is a game of opinions and my blog gives me the opportunity to express mine. This comments box gives others that chance too.
Anon 4.13PM: absolutely spot on. You have taken the words out of my mouth. The country needs a complete overhaul in its grassroots sports development and if it doesn't happen, Cambodia will remain bottom of the pile for the foreseeable future. Very sad.
Andy
seem like we foreigners are more interested in their football development than themselves... the players just want to play soccer while the officials are only interested in ..........
still cant understand how nagacorp being one of the top clubs in the league hardly get any call up from the country among their players...
Anon 9.15AM:
The Naga Corp team is made up of ageing Khmer players (in Cambodian football terms) and foreigners. To some extent I can understand why Naga players have not been selected. Om Thavrak is a good example. He's been one of the toughest and most successful central defenders for the last few years and has been one of my fave players since I started watching Khmer football. However, despite him having played for the national team previously, he's now regarded in the 'ageing players' bracket and as such, won't get a call up to the national team. There are 2 exceptions to this rule: Ouk Mic and Sam El Nasa. As for Thavrak, he's not as quick and mobile as he once was, he's also not the easiest player for a coach to handle I'm reliably informed. He does a good job for Naga but he's now missed the boat as far as the national team is concerned - this also applies to Chin Chom, Teab Vathanak, Sam Minar, Neang Chenla, Pok Chanthan and even Nuth Sinoun.
In the future, Naga players like Kop Isa, Soeung Monyroath and Tiet Chandarasokha may get a look-in at national team level.
Just my tuppenceworth.
Andy
Andy,
I agreed with some of reason you raised but in my view that is not the main reason. Do you know who are the assistants of the Mr. Lee? most of them are former national team and also had a good relationship with FFC officials.
As you know, national team players of other countries are also very old around 30 years old or some more than that. but they still play football very well. why some of Naga players are not selected? it is the culture of corruption, culture of network and family. the FFC will not be successful.
It is the big problem for Cambodia.
Ryra
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