Test for Academy

The Crown Academy boys line up for the cameras

The recently concluded Festival of Football for U-13 teams saw the Cambodia Foundation Organisation from Kompong Chhnang lift the trophy, with a 3-2 success over Phnom Svay in the final at Kambol. The championships included club teams from Preah Khan Reach, BBU and Naga Corp as well as teams from provinces as far away as Mondulkiri, Preah Vihear and Koh Kong. Now the big test for the Festival U-13 newly-crowned champs comes tomorrow morning at 9am when they face the Phnom Penh Crown Elite Academy team at Crown's training headquarters at Tuol Kork. The Crown boys who began life at the residential Academy in February are living the dream of every youngster in the country, being professionally coached and playing football every morning, whilst receiving a private school education every afternoon. They've recently returned from successful trips to Singapore and Vietnam and just a few weeks ago captured the Barclays Capital Indochina Starfish U-14 Boys Championship. The Crown Academy boys were selected after trials around the country in 17 provinces and the 22 youngsters who make up the Academy intake include boys from the following geographical locations; Phnom Penh 4, Kandal 3, Sihanoukville 3, Koh Kong 3, Banteay Meanchey 2, Pursat 2, Battambang 2, Siem Reap 1, Kompong Cham 1, Takeo 1. Attending tomorrow's game will be Andy Smith from New Zealand, the Managing Director of Crown's partners, the Asia Pacific Football Academy.