SEA Games mis-adventures

Cam U23s v Malaysia. Back Row LtoR: Sovan, Rithy, Soksana, Rady, Sothearath, Laboravy. Front Row: Pancharong, Yaty, Raksmey, Souhana, Chhoeun

There's not much more to say that I haven't said already about Cambodia's SEA Games football mis-adventures. Cambodia came unstuck again, as expected, in their final Group A match of the Jakarta-based SEA Games this afternoon, losing 4-1 to reigning champions Malaysia. Playing their 4th game in the space of seven days, Chhin Chhoeun netted a consolation for Cambodia on the hour, after Malaysia went in 3-nil up at the break - with Sok Rithy having a nightmare at the back - and then added another on full-time when Prak Mony Udom failed to clear his lines. So that's 2 goals in 4 matches for Cambodia, both by Chhoeun, whilst they conceded 16 goals at the other end. Lee Tae-Hoon, Cambodia's Korean coach, selected Sou Yaty between the sticks and stuck with his defensive-minded midfield with an extra defender added for comfort. Conceding a goal after just seven minutes sank his plan, yet again.
Lee's words of infinite wisdom on the team's performances in the competition are worth nothing. "The campaign was not a total loss. The players have been learning from game to game and I think that they are better players as compared to when they first came to Jakarta. I believe that this team can only get stronger and they will definitely be better at the next SEA Games in 2013." Well, we all hope the team will get stronger of course, but I hope that Lee isn't suggesting that he stays in charge for the next SEA Games, as that would be disastrous. He's had his time at the helm, it's now time to hand the baton to someone more experienced and capable. I fully expect the Federation to see sense and end the Korean experiment, which is their 2nd attempt at it, and both have been as unsuccessful as each other. The positives from the four defeats are that the players who did play will benefit from the international experience, though players like Soun Veasna and Keo Sokngorn, who spent most of their time on the bench, were under-utilised by the coach and he has to answer for that. In fact, he has to answer for the last 14 months of poor results, as I've said ad nauseam.
Cam U23s v Malaysia: Yaty, Raksmey, Rady, Sovan, Rithy, Pancharong (Pheng 47), Sothearath, Chhoeun (PM Udom 84), Souhana (Saray 20), Laboravy, Soksana. Subs not used: Vichet, Daravorn, Phearith, Veasna, Dalin, Sokngorn.