All round winners

The Crown Academy team in the 1st half. Back Row LtoR: Sovann, K Chhaya, Chanpolin, S Samnang, Baraing, Sakrovy. Front Row: Rozak, Ponvuthy, Sodavid, Muslim, Sovannaroth.

The Academy team that started the 2nd half: Back Row LtoR: Titchhy, S Samnang, Sopheak, Senteang, Chanchav, David. Front Row: Phearath, Noeut, T Chhaya, Chansopheak, V Samnang.

Though the Phnom Penh Crown first team are taking an end of season break, there is no such thing for the club's Academy players. As part of the 22-boy Elite Academy, the youngsters who come from all over the country, are in the Academy for the long run, getting football coaching and fitness training every morning and a private schooling at Beltei every afternoon, except for a holiday each Sunday. They reside in dormitories at the club's RSN Stadium in Tuol Kork, and have been there since February of this year. This morning, they played their first practice match for a month against the club's U-16 squad and came out on top, again, winning 7-3 played over three 30-minute periods. The U-16 boys had the audacity to open the scoring but Seut Baraing put a free-kick into the top corner and then Yeu Muslim poked home a goalkeeping mistake before the first break to make it 2-1. With Long Phearath whacking another into the top corner, it was all one-way traffic in the second period, with Suon Noeut racing clear on two occasions and finishing coolly in identical fashion and Ken Chansopheak showing some trickery in the box before lashing his shot home. In the third period, the U-16s made a fist of it with two more goals, though Pov Ponvuthy had a penalty saved and the Academy wrapped up the scoring after forcing an own goal by the U-16s defence. A good work-out for both squads in the hot sun and on a spongy pitch. The Academy youngsters have also begun extra English language lessons in recent weeks to add to their private schooling, which will add another layer to their ongoing development, not only as excellent footballers, but as fully-rounded individuals.

This free-kick from Baraing evaded everyone, including the keeper

Ponvuthy's penalty kick, that was saved late-on

Vat Samnang showing some neat trickery in the penalty box

The Academy boys listen to their head coach, Bouy Dary before the match begins