Saturday, September 24, 2011

Shambolic

On arrival at Fengshan, there's a game already going on
What a shambles. The most important thing to go wrong today was Phnom Penh Crown's final training session before the AFC President's Cup Final, which takes place at 7pm tomorrow night. We had delayed our session so that head coach David Booth and team captain Thul Sothearith could attend the pre-Final press conference. We put ourselves out for the AFC. After it finished, we headed to the Fengshan Stadium, some 40 minutes driving-time from the hotel, for our 90 minutes training session. It never took place. On the pitch when we arrived was a girl's match and they refused to budge. Frantic phone calls to the AFC and the local organizing committee produced no successful outcome, so the Crown squad were forced to train on the rubber athletic track surrounding the pitch. This made it impossible for David Booth and his players, especially his goalkeepers, to do anything other than stretches, running and passing. The day before the most important game in Crown's history and we are seriously disadvantaged by the local committee, who later called and said they'd made a mistake and sent us to the wrong location. My arse. We play against the host team, Taipower tomorrow and any advantage they can get, they will take . What a coincidence that we are sent to a training facility where we cannot train adequately. The suits at the AFC have to seriously look into this fiasco or they will be tainted by the stench that is coming out of this very smelly situation.

But that's not all. At the team manager's meeting just after noon, rules and regulations are read out, everyone nods and it's sorted. Not on this occasion. Phnom Penh Crown have been drawn as the home team for the final. That effectively gives them first dibs on team colours, dressing room, etc. However, Taipower wanted to wear their second playing kit as they'd won their last game wearing it. The jersey is red, the same colour as Crown's. We stuck to our guns and said we will play in our first-choice kit. The AFC suits suggested Taipower wear their second strip and change their shorts, but the hosts complained that it would look "ugly." Then to our amazement, the AFC agreed to Taipower's request and rode roughshod over their own gentleman's understanding, making Crown change their complete playing strip and also the goalkeeper's colours as well. So much for being drawn at home. The hosts got exactly what they wanted and the AFC caved into their demands. I'm still scratching my head over how this was allowed to happen by the AFC suits.
"We won't accept this treatment, will we!" David Booth tells his squad
The surface only allowed stretching, running and simple passing
"Get a good stretch, you make history tomorrow."
"Do you catch my drift," says coach David Booth, alongside Sun Sopanha
Khim Borey listens to head coach David Booth's words at today's shortened training session

4 comments:

CamboGuide said...

Well Andy, heads up. Suppose the bad treatment will have the reverse effect that was intended: the Crown players will be giving everything they can tomorrow. Crossing fingers here!

Ko Po Hui said...

Well, the AFC is not necessary that competent in getting these issues sort out after having seen it for myself and heard from the grapevine

Kheng Seyla said...

Phnom penh crown, u will win tomorrow. I believe u can get the cup back to Cambodia. For the host, they bother our mentalities, they annoy us, they break our heart by doing sth silly and they hope they can defeat us.BUT DON'T CARE ABOUT THEM, DO WHAT U WANT TO DO.TRY DOING YOUR BEST, PLAY LIKE U USED TO PLAY WHEN U WIN.

Anonymous said...

Andy, somebody told me that Taiwan having very ambitious chairman who invest big money in football n AFC want more people like him in Asian football so dont be surprise if refs wear red jerseys tmrow.